I 9 o LIFE AND EXPERIENCES CHAP. 



(i.e., that foreign industries are surpassing English ones) 

 is borne out by the facts. The names of Mr. Bernhard 

 Samuelson, Dr. Henry Roscoe, and Mr. Slagg among 

 its members will show its competence." 



The Commission was a singular one, inasmuch as 

 each Commissioner had to pay his own expenses, the 

 Government being responsible only for the secretarial 

 expenditure and cost of printing. From my knowledge 

 of Germany, and of what was being done in the way 

 of science-teaching in that country and generally on the 

 Continent, I was willing to undertake this responsibility, 

 and the result proved to be not only interesting, but, as 

 I venture to think, important in the industrial history 

 of the country. 



My colleagues were Mr. (the late Rt. Hon. Sir) 

 Bernhard Samuelson, the great iron-master, a man of 

 varied commercial experience, intimately cognisant of 

 the industrial conditions on the Continent, as well as 

 at home, and, moreover, perfectly acquainted both with 

 French and German; the late Mr. John Slagg, M.P., 

 whose knowledge of the cotton trade in general was 

 very complete ; Mr. (now Sir) Swire Smith, who 

 represented the great woollen trade of Yorkshire, and 

 had taken much interest in educational matters ; Mr. 

 (now Sir Philip) Magnus, who represented the London 

 Guilds ; and the late Mr. William Woodall, M.P., who 

 was well acquainted with the pottery district and the 

 important industries in that neighbourhood. Our 

 secretary was Mr. Gilbert Redgrave, of South Ken- 

 sington, who brought to bear on his duties great 

 knowledge, great enthusiasm, and complete devotion 

 to the cause. 



Our journeys abroad, as well as those in this country, 

 were of a most interesting and successful character. 

 As they are fully indicated in the report, I will not 



