I had almost forgotten one other point of communication for mind, and, though at the risk of trying your patience, I must mention it, as its increase has been so large, and its advantages so manifold and untold.  I mean the penny-postage.  I am not going to enter into it at any length, but the increase of correspondence has been so large, that Sir Rowland Hill’s name should not be left out of a lecture treating on subjects such as this one is intended to do.  I will content myself by merely telling the increase of correspondence, and leave you to judge for yourselves as to its benefits.  The number of letters in 1839, before the penny-postage, was 82,470,596, and in 1866 it was 597,277,616.  Judge the difference!

Coming to the results of communication, I have one subject to bring before you, and as it has shown to such a large extent the benefits of international communication, I trust a few words on it may not be out of place.  The subject is the great International Exhibitions that have been held in various countries in the last eighteen years.  The first idea of holding such great exhibitions emanated from a man whose name cannot be held in too great estimation by all.  Few men were gifted with such rare talents as he was, for there were few subjects, whether in science, literature, or art, that he was not intimately acquainted with.  This man was the late Prince Consort.  He conceived the idea that if the products of the various countries of the world could be brought together under one roof, the knowledge these would convey of the machinery, cultivation, science, literature, and arts practised in the various parts of the globe would tend to stimulate and advance the mind by showing that we had not only ourselves to look to, but that in a great measure we had to depend on others for the many blessings we now enjoy; and also lead us to see how needful to our prosperity and comfort is a constant communication with those who can communicate to us that knowledge which otherwise we could not obtain.  Certainly the results have proved that he was right.  Could anything have been more interesting or instructive to all than a visit to the Great Exhibitions of 1851 or 1862, or that of Paris in 1867.  The public interest is at once shown when I tell you that 6,039,195 persons visited the latter, and the receipts in money were L506,100.  There, all and every one had before him at a glance the subject most suited to his taste, with a full description of the country which produced it.  From the largest machine, the heaviest ordnance, the most brilliant and precious stones, the finest silks, lace, furniture, carriages, the greatest luxuries for the table, and, in fact, everything needful for the use of man;—­all were there, and all to be seen and studied by the inquiring mind, or to be regarded as very wonderful by those who went to the Exhibition as a sight.  Few, I venture to say, ever left these buildings except wiser than when they entered.  It could not fail to strike one, if one only gave it a moment’s reflection, and asked himself, how has all this been brought about, but that it was the result of the communication of the minds of certain individuals with those of others, and by a concentration of the products of various countries to enlighten the mind as to the vast intelligence of the world at large.