26 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



tensive library, repository, otir Farmers' and Mechanics' clubs, 

 our committees, secretaries and clerks, and for all our business 

 operations, at a mere nominal rent ; while .the revenues of our 

 rental of the unoccupied portion of the building, are adequate to 

 meet the interest upon our small indebtedness, the taxes, insu- 

 rance and other incidentals. May wo not then claim, on behalf 

 of the American Institute, that by its thrifty and prudential man- 

 agement of its fiscal concerns, its officiary is entitled to the con- 

 fidence of all its members and friends at home and abroad. 



We now submit a statement of the amount annually expended 

 for premiums, during the last nineteen years, which will exhibit 

 one item of the outlay attendant upon each fair. It will serve to 

 show that we are steadfastly pursuing the great and good objects 

 for which the Institute was incorporated by the Legislature of 

 our State, viz: "bestowing rewards and other benefits upon all 

 who make improvements in any of the arts, or excel in any 

 department of American industry." To these objects, all our 

 means, resources and availabilities have ever been, and still will 

 be, sacredly devoted. 



Cost of Premiums Awarded by the American Institute from 

 1835 to 1857. 



8th Annual Fair, 1835, $119 00 



9th " " 1836, ., 1,034 50 



10th " " 1837, 1,093 50 



11th " " 1838, 1,259 50 



12th " " 1839, ..1,155 44 



13th " " 1840, 842 50 



14th " " 1841, 1,183 03 



15th " " 1842, 1,155 96 



16th " '• 1843, 1,19155 



17th " " 1844,.. 1,192 44 



18th " " 1845, 1,848 17 



19th " " 1846, 3,225 10 



20th " " 1847, - ...2,592 78 



21st " " 1848, 3,089 83 



22d " " 1849, 2,482 61 



23d " " 1850, ...4,303 72 



24th " " 1851, 4,091 76 



25th " " 1852, 4,917 43 



26th " " 1853, 3,366 77 



27th " " 1855, 3,269 97 



28th " " 1856, 5,593 49 



29th " " 1857, - 3,160 34 



For further and ampler details of all the proceedings of the 

 Institute, we refer to the annual reports made to the State Legis- 



