REPORT OF MR. HILL.
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urged, of making an early effort for a full exhibition by the State of Massachusetts at this Exposition.
Among the branches ’which 'were most thoroughly developed at Yienua was that of education. It was made a matter of great prominence by the directors of the Exposition, and the means of illustration, in buildings, material for instruction, publications, etc., were numerous. This portion of the exhibition and our place in it is passed over here, as the Special Commissioner, Mr. Philbrick, has, no doubt, fully developed it.
Among other objects of the Exposition, an endeavor was made by its promoters to take advantage of the number of strangers whom they expected it to bring together to hold a series of congresses upon important international matters. Of these, that upon patents was perhaps the most important to our interests. The patent laws are at present in a very unsatisfactory condition on the Continent. Either it is almost impossible to procure a patent, or with states which grant them, the construction of the courts is such that they are practically valueless. The industrial activity of the United States, however, and the apparent influence of our patent system on invention, are beginning to have their effect; and there is a large portion of the more liberal party which desires to introduce the advantages of a good patent system. In England, also, there is a strong disposition to alter their patent laws, so as to make them more like ours. It was believed that if those of this way of thinking could organize and unite u pon a strong declaration in favor of patents as promoters of mdustry, and could prepare a simple statement of the prin- C1 ples upon which a good patent law should rest, such action would be the first, and a very large, step towards the desired iteration of their patent laws.
At the request of the Director-general of the Exposition, Barou Schwarz-Senborn, who took a most lively interest in this congress, the undersigned believing that he should subserve the interest of the State in so doing, became a member °f the preparatory committee, and afterwards at the nomination of the same gentleman, was elected vice-president of the congress on the part of the United States. This body carlo ♦