ADDRESS 



OF T. S. FAXTON, PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY, FEB'y 11, 1857. 



Gentlemen, of the JYew-York State Agricultural Society : 



We are once more permitted to assemble together through the 

 goodness and mercy of Him, " who doeth all things well" — and 

 let us not forget our obligations and dependence on Him for the 

 numerous blessings we receive as a people, highly favored in the 

 enjoyment of peace, health and prosperity, both as a State and 

 Nation. 



The past season has been one of great prosperity, and our Na- 

 tion has been highly blessed. While others have been engaged in 

 wars and visited with pestilence, our country has escaped their 

 ravages ; our farming, manufacturing and commercial prosperity 

 has been most gratifying. When I look around me and consider 

 the high position we occupy as a Society, aud the success which 

 has attended it from its conception, and remember the eloquent 

 words that have dropped from the lips of those who have preceded 

 me, I am almost constrained to withhold any remarks further 

 than to thank you for the partiality and kindness with which you 

 have sustained me in my duties the past year. 



Our Sixteenth Annual Fair. — This anniversary, now one of the 

 most distinguished and most welcome of the occurrences of the 

 year, was held at the village of Watertown in the county of Jef- 

 ferson, on the thirtieth of September, and first, second and tliird 

 of October, and came amidst all the discouragements of a succes- 

 sion of stormy hours, unexampled in the annals of the Society; 

 still it indicated to the attentive observer, the strongest assurances 

 of the earnest and vigorous position occupied by the agricultural 

 interests of the State. No one could have seen the occurrences 

 of these days, but must have been convinced that the attention of 

 the people is concentrated on the movements of the State Society 



with unequivocal marks of favor; and that all its undertakings 

 [Ag. Trans.J C 



