SECRETARY'S REPORT. 225 



a Stcinway only a few months before, it was gratifying to have 

 my judgment of it so emphatically confirmed. 



Of the works oi art exhibited by Americans, though not 

 numerous, it may be said that they were creditable in the 

 highest degree to the country. The quality and high character 

 of the paintings, photograplis and engravings were not sur- 

 passed by any other nation, and, in the opinion of many disin- 

 terested judges, they were not equalled ; and if Church had 

 been there with his " Heart of the Andes " and his " Niagara," 

 I have little doubt that they would have attracted more atten- 

 tion than any other works of the kind. 



Space will not permit me to dwell longer upon this depart- 

 ment, but I cannot omit to mention that the master-pieces of 

 sculpture were those of our own citizen, W. W. Story. Though 

 exhibited in the Roman court, they are no less American. His 

 "Cleopatra" cannot fail to add largely to his already bril- 

 liant reputation as an artist. This faultless and exquisitely 

 beautiful statue is of pure white marble. Nothing can exceed 

 the chasteness and simplicity of the design. She sits a queen, 

 the elbow of the right arm resting on the back of the chair, 

 the head leaning upon her hand. The drapery clothes the 

 whole body except the splendid neck, the exquisitely rounded 

 arms and one sandled foot. The expression is full of thought, 

 as if a shade of sadness weighed upon the heart. Story's 

 " Sybilla Libica" is also a splendid work of art, in faultless 

 marble, and attracted very great attention. Both works were 

 disposed of to Englishmen, at very great prices. 



During my stay in London I made an excursion to Tiptree 

 Hall Farm, in Essex. This farm is well known by reputation 

 in this country, as that of Mr. Alderman Mechi, of London. 

 It is forty-four miles from the city. It consisted originally of one 

 hundred and tiiirty, afterwards increased to one hundred and 

 seventy acres, of heath almost barren, which by extraordinary 

 labor and expense has been converted into a very productive, 

 highly cultivated and beautiful farm, thoroughly under-drained 

 and furnislied with the means of applying the manure in a 

 liquid form, from a central cistern through pipes laid under- 

 ground, radiating to various parts of the farm, through which 

 tlie manure is forced by steam-power. 



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