No. 112.] 351 



The shawls, both plaiu and embroidered, presented by the 

 Peacedale EDanufactory, were exceedingly beautiful, and are pro- 

 bably superior to those of any other manufactory in New-England. 

 This institution is now in the thirty-third year of its existence, 

 and has a capital of $18,000 securely invested, the interest of 

 which, together with the avails of its annual fairs, is ample for all 

 its necessities. 



The society ori2:inated in the town of Warwick, from the dif- 

 ficulty experienced by farmers in matching their steers. Much 

 time was often expended by riding around to procure a match, 

 that might be saved could they know where to go in the first place. 

 An association was therefore formed, the members of which agreed 

 that once a year they would meet at some place to be designated 

 annually by the society, bringing their steers with them, so that 

 all the farmers had a better chance to match their cattle, and to 

 sell and buy at fair prices. This plan was found to work so well 

 that cows, and afterwards hogs and sheep were annually brought 

 to the show. In its origin it was really a fair, at which buying 

 and selling only was thought of. This small beginning in the 

 town of Warwick has gradually expanded into the present so- 

 ciety. 



There are some points of difference between our fairs and 

 theirs which it may be useful to notice. In the first place, 

 there is here a disposition on the part of contributors to 

 bring the things of the oldm as well as the modern time, 

 time, for exhibition. Visitors are therefore better qualified to 

 judge of the march of improvement when they see the implement 

 or the manufacture of to-day in direct contrast with the imple- 

 ment or manufacture which it has superceded. Among other rel- 

 ics of the olden time, I noticed a bell metal skillett, which was 

 cast in 1730, the names of the five generations who had used it 

 were on the card, but the name of the first owner was lost. A 

 dress made of very coarse linen, of an olive color, and richly em- 

 broidered, was exhibited, which had been worn by a lady of Provi- 

 dence in the presence of the royal gcn'crnors of the colony prior 

 to the revolution. It had a boddice waist, like the fashion of the 

 present day, but no farm laborer now wears so coarse a fabric as 



