REPORT OF MR. ADAMS.
31
celebrities in matters of education, of science and of art. It was indeed matter of curious observation how very rarely the names of the true scientific authorities—those on the spot recognized as such—were ever mentioned ; and what frequent and noisy reference was made to others whose efforts were least appreciated by those most competent to judge of their worth. There were also in attendance a large number of others occupying positions more or less official, whose presence it was not easy to explain. They had certainly not been commissioned on account of any public service they were qualified to render, and it was difficult to appreciate the exact amount of private benefit they were deriving from their sojourn. They certainly knew nothing, and to all appearances they did nothing. They had apparently secured appointments abroad as an agreeable change from a monotonous and dreary idleness at home. These, however, were at least a negative element,— they were unnoticeable units in a vast aggregation of men. This could not, however, truthfully be said of all. There were among the accredited representatives,—especially the "Honorary Commissioners” of certain of the States,—not a few who reflected a direct discredit upon those by whom they were sent, and whom they were supposed to represent. Individuals who could have received public credentials to the Exposition for no conceivable reason except that they wished to see it, or had some less creditable ends in view, and regarded a governmental commission as a species of letter of credit.
It surely need not be said that such a gathering as this is not one from which it is easy to procure complete or philosophical resumes of the results of modern progress. That We succeeded in securing so many as we did, is now somewhat °f a matter of surprise to me. The lesson to be derived from this portion of our experience is, however, an obvious one. So far as studying results upon any general or comprehensive plan of value is concerned, I am persuaded that it is useless for Massachusetts or for any other individual State to send its a gents to future expositions. It is in fact a mere waste of Public money. The end is out of all proportion to the uieans. The material to be met with on the spot is not sufficiently good or reliable, and the field of operations is too remote to justify the great expense which must of neces-