42 [Senate 



The improvements we are making in agriculture are doing much to 

 impress upon intelligent men there, the importance of our country and 

 the benefits of our free institutions. Such I doubt not is the fact, and I 

 am confirmed in this by an assurance given in a letter from a distin- 

 guished gentleman in England, that the proceedings of our own Soci- 

 ety, which have found a place in many of the libraries of gentlemen 

 there, have done much to impress upon their people the great re- 

 sources of our country, and the favorable results of our free and un- 

 tramelled institutions. 



We ought to feel that we are laboring not for ourselves only. A 

 world is before us, upon whose character and destiny, we are to exert 

 an influence for all time to come. If we but elevate the character of our 

 population, advance as we may, by the aid of education and science, 

 that influence will be such as will lead to the establishment of free 

 insti utions every where — and for which many of the oppressed of the 

 of the old world are eagerly looking, and from whom it is fondly 

 hoped they may not be so long withheld that they shall die without 

 the sight." 



When the President concluded his address, he introduced the 

 President elect, who briefly returned thanks for the hono" conferred 

 upon him by the society in electing him their President — an honor of 

 which the highest individual in the country might well be proud. 



On motion of Dr. Lee, of Erie, it was unanimously 



Resolved) That this society highly appreciate the services of its late 

 President, B. P. Johnson, as the presiding officer of said society, and 

 that he has its thanks for the highly instructive and interesting address, 

 just delivered before this body, and that he be requested to furnish a 

 copy for publication. 



On motion of Mr. Stevens, of New-York, 



Resolved, That the thanks of this society be given to the officers of 

 the society whose terms expire this day, for the able and faithful 

 manner in which they have performed the duties of their offices during 

 the past year. 



On motion of Judge Cheever, of Saratoga, 



Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to ask the Legis- 

 lature, on behalf of this society, to cause to be prepared by the State 

 geologists, or others, an abridgment of the Geological Survey of the 



