ADDRESS 



I>au;VERED BEFORE THE MICHIGAK STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETV, AT ITS 

 nPTH ANNUAL FAIR, UELD AT DETROIT, SEPT., 1853, BV REV. IL V. TAP- 

 PAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIA'SRSITY OF MICHI(7AN. 



The author of one of the Bridgewater Treatises, has made the human 

 hand simply, the subject of discussion. A small part of the human 

 frame is the hand ; and yet, what would man be without it, and what 

 has he done with it I The human hand — how perfect and beautiful in 

 its formation, and how perfectly adapted to all its uses ! There is noth- 

 ing superfluous about it, and while no part of it can be spared, there is 

 nothing that can be added to it. It is, just as it is, a complete member. 

 But what are its uses, and what has man done with it ? The history 

 of the human hand is the history of industry — of industrj- under the 

 widest points of view. Man began to work with his hands alone ; and 

 whatever other instruments he may have contrived, he has never been 

 able to dispense with his hands. The hand then represents all industry 

 — we will call it, if you please, the symbol of industry. 



The world was given to man, at first, a wild, rude world — just as the 

 forests and prairies of this State weie given to many of you who hear 

 me : and man, at first, had to take hold of the world with his bare 

 hands. There was no axe to fell the trees ; there was no spade or hoe 

 or plough ; and no steer trained to the furrow. 



The world was filled with materials — all the woods — all the soils — all 

 the streams — all the mines — the rain and the sunshine ; all were here from 

 the beginninij, and all were given to man. But what is ho to do with 



