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BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. MOOKE, for the Committee on Credentials, submitted 

 the following 



REPORT. 



The committee appointed to examine and report upon the 

 credentials of newly elected members respectfully report that 

 they have attended to that duty, and find the following duly 

 elected: — ' 



The secretary made a statement of the circumstances 

 under which he entered upon the duties of his office on the 

 14th of February, 1853. The Board had been organized by 

 an Act of the Legislature, signed by the Governor, on the 

 21st of April, 1852, and had requested Dr. Edward Hitch- 

 cock, the president of Amherst College, to take the office ; 

 but the earnest entreaty of the trustees prevailed, and he 

 finally declined. The Board then wrote to Mr. Flint, who had 

 recently gone to establish himself in New York, asking his 

 opinion as to what the duties and the qualifications of such 

 an officer should be. This opinion was given at some length, 

 without the slightest idea that the Board had any thought of 

 fixing ujjon him as a candidate. Soon after, a letter was 

 received from a member of the Board, asking him if he would 

 consent to take the office if the Board should unite upon 

 him. This question was promptly answered in the negative. 

 To take it would involve an entire change in the cherished 

 plans of his life ; and his education had not been directed in 

 a way to qualify him especially for such a position. 



