LADY'S NEWSPAPER.
"Mr. Peter Berlyn has produced a well arranged, clear, and concise hand book to this wonder of the world, in which he traces its origin, progress, and prospects, in a pleasing and interesting manner. This must have been a most difficult task, as the materials out of which he has formed his narrative are so widely scattered that it requires some one who perfectly and profoundly understands the subject (as we are convinced Mr. Berlyn does) to collect and arrange them in so satisfactory a manner. The ladies also will hail this work with pleasure, because, though containing every information on the subject, it is at the same time light, interesting, and infinitely superior to the dry and prosy style usually adopted in similar works. It is tastefully illustrated, has an elegant fancy binding, and forms a guide-book either for the library or the pocket."
NOTES AND QUERIES.
"A volume carefully compiled from authentic sources of information upon the several points set forth in its ample title page."
GARDENER AND FARMERS' JOURNAL.
"We do not go out of our province as horticultural journalists in noticing a work recently issued by Mr. Gilbert, of Paternoster-row. Our friends in the provinces will do well to study beforehand as many of the probable incidents of their trip as possible; and, though innumerable prints and tabular descriptions of the Exhibition Building have been issued, we have not had anything before like a connected history of the great project itself. The work before us is called 'A Popular Narrative of the Origin, History, Progress, and Prospects of the Great Exhibition of 1851; and we think the author, Mr. Berlyn, has treated his subject in perfect accordance with the title. More than this it is quite unnecessary to say as to the merits of the work; but we may just notice that the 'getting-up' has evidently been intrusted to careful hands. The binding is neat and tasteful, and, besides a ground-plan, a perspective view of the building is given."
MINING JOURNAL.
"This volume, which unostentatiously treats on the highly interesting subjects indicated in the title, is based on records of unimpeachable value. All speculation has been wisely avoided, and its pages present an unvarnished history of one of the most extraordinary undertakings of which the history of the world can boast; extraordinary in the fact of the people of this little island challenging the people of the universe to meet on its shores with specimens of their several productions of industry; and extraordinary in the magnitude, decidedly novel, and inconceivably rapid erection of the building for their reception. The history of every similar exhibition is traced back to its source; those of Manchester, Birmingham, London, and France are minutely recorded; the growing interest which followed every subsequent exposition statistically described, and every detail connected with the Royal Commission, the arrangements, the building, future rules, throughout a space of 200 pages, and finishing with a list of the local committees, conveys a vivid and correct picture of this vast national undertaking."
CHURCH AND STATE GAZETTE.
"A work that was wanted. It puts the public in full possession of every iota of intelligence in connexion with the Great Exhibition worth having, and has some very sensible remarks on the prospects of home exhibitors, especially at the forthcoming display. It is indispensable to all interested in the subject."