255 

 THE DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



RESIGNATION OF COMMISSIONER CAPROX AND APPOINTMENT OF HIS 

 SUCCESSOR, HON. FREDERICK WATTS. ' 



Since the last Monthly Eeport was issued, an important chanaje has 

 occurred iu the administration of this Department. Hon. Horace 

 Capron has tendered to the President liis resig.nation of the oftice of 

 C(Hnnussioner of Aj^riculture, to which lie was appointed November !i9, 

 1807, and the resignation has been accepted, to take effect on the 1st 

 day of August next. Tlie following' corresjiondence on the subject has 

 passed between the Commissioner and the President : 



Depaktment of Agiuculture, TVahihinfftoii, June 27, 1871. 



Dear Sir: In fulfill nieut of an eugao-ement with reprevseiitatives of a foreign govern- 

 ment, the nature aiKl,circiimstuuces of which I communiiated to yoix early in May last, 

 it becomes necessary to tender my resignation as Comlnissiouer of Agriculture, to take 

 efiect on the 1st day of August next. In doing so, I desire to express ray high appre- 

 ciation of your confidence and kindness, ofiicially and personally expressed, and I assure 

 you of their indelible impression upon my mind and heart. 



I have the satisfaction of leaving the Department in efficient working order ; its 

 buildings and improvements erected, without increasing the moderate annual appro- 

 j)riations; its finances unenjbarrassed ; its current pecuniary obligations without, as 

 heretofore, the necessity of deficiency appropriations, and an enlarged fund for the 

 next fiscal year. Its usefulness has been satisfact(nil.y tested, not only in the exercise 

 of its well-known public functions, but in answer to thousands of personal inquiries, 

 in vtdviiig every aspect of scientific agriculture, and tending to advance the public weal 

 Avith private welfare; and its importance asserted in decided terms by industrial 

 authorities, official and personal, of all quarters of the globe. I scarcely ne*?d ask from 

 you a continuance of that intelligent appreciation and fostering care accorded hitherto, 

 and essential to the fall development and highest utility of this Department of the 

 National Government. 



I have the honor to be, vour obedient servant, 



HORACE CAPRON, 

 Commissioiier of Agriculture. 



The President of the Uxited States. 



Executive Mansion, WashuKjIon, June '2S, 1871. 



Dear Sir : Your letter of the27th instant, tendering your resignation as Commissioner 

 of Agriculture, is just received. A])preciating as I do the value to the country at hirge 

 of the Department over which you have so ably presided for years, I should regret re- 

 ceiving or accepting your resignation were it not for the imjjortance attached to the 

 new position which you are called on to fill, and which, uo doubt, will be filled with 

 credit and to the inestimable value of the nation which has secured your services. 



In the new place of which you have accepted the responsibilities I predict results 

 creditable to yourself and to the nation which has so honored you, as well as the rapid 

 advance of commerce between that nation and all others. Such a result cannot prove 

 otlierwise than befteficial to the world's interests, leaving out of the account that of 

 ourselves as a single nation. 



Your resignation is accepted from the date proposed by yourself, with anticipations 

 that you will realize all that is expected from your new duties. 



With sincere wishes for your future success, I subscribe myself, very sincerely, your 

 obedient servant, " , 



U. S. GRANT. 



Hon. Horace Capron, Commissioner of Agriculture. 



The engagement to which General Capron refers in his letter above 

 given was made with commissioners of the Japanese government, who 

 were de])uted to visit this country and make arrangements for the 

 introduction into Japan of American methods of agriculture and a 

 knowledge of other industrial arts of our advanced civilization, includ- 

 ing our railroad and mining systems. General Capron has been selected 

 ■to perform this important work. He is empowered to introduce into 

 Japan models of implements and machinery connected with our Indus- 



