PROSPERITY AND POWER OF MASSACHUSETTS. 85 



increase of scholars in our public schools was over ten thousand ; 

 and the amount raised by taxation for schools was larger by more 

 than two hundred thousand dollars, than during any previous 

 year. The devotion of two millions of dollars by an individual 

 benefactor, Mr. George Peabody, for the diffusion of knowledge 

 in the West and South-west, has excited the admiration of 

 mankind ; the amount expended by Massachusetts in one year 

 as her annual contribution to the cause of learning, was larger 

 than this by more than five hundred thousand dollars, being 

 $2,574,974.49, in her public schools alone. In addition to this, 

 her colleges have been liberally supported ; and it has been 

 estimated that her sons have bestowed more than a million of 

 dollars in private subscription, and bequest, and donation for 

 educational purposes upon the fortunate recipients of their 

 bounty. I congratulate this republic of ours upon the energy 

 which Massachusetts has displayed in this work of education. 

 Starting forth as she did with a high standard, her institutions 

 of learning have increased in number and prosperity, until she 

 has literally become the nursery of education and educated 

 men. In the advance guard of civilization as it travels west- 

 ward, may be found her young men, graduates of her schools, 

 prepared to plant the New England school-house within the 

 fortifications and palisades of the frontier. Within her limits, 

 no branch of science, or thought, or speculation, or education 

 goes unexplored. And when from the schools of the Old 

 World, the energetic and enterprising scholar turns his eye 

 towards this country, as towards a new field for investigation, 

 and looks for that spot where he may find a genial atmosphere, 

 and the best fraternity of scholarship, it is Massachusetts which 

 presents the most alluring charms. I cannot forget the encour- 

 aging and flattering fact that Massachusetts presented the most 

 attractive home for Agassiz when he determined to bring his 

 scholarship to America. 



I trust, gentlemen, that those of you who have come from 

 beyond the borders of Massachusetts to take part in this admi- 

 rable exhibition of the products of agricultural and mechanical 

 industry in New England, will not imagine that I am blind to 

 the high and honorable record of other States. I am not. I 

 am aware that Massachusetts does not stand alone. As one of 

 the family of States, she shines for others and they for her. 



