the practical utility of which has once been settled. A few thousands, 

 nay, millions of dollars, have not deterred our legislators from either 

 taxing the people, or appropriating its already accumulated treasures 

 for works tending to the public welfure. Our literature and common 

 school funds have been augmented in various ways, until common 

 education throughout the State is almost free, and in some communi- 

 ties absolutely so, by the aid of general taxation on property. Me- 

 dical institutions, as well as colleges, have been largely endowed, and 

 are still assisted by the State; and you have abundant example that the 

 disposition has not been wanting in our government to execute, where 

 the great constiutent body has demanded the work. The propriety of 

 this measure has reached your high places, and I refer with great plea- 

 sure to the recent message of Governor Fish, who, in view of the be- 

 nign results accomplished by your society, has emphatically recom- 

 mended " the endowment by the State of an Agricultural School and 

 a school for instruction in the Mechanic Arts;" and this, if followed 

 up with the zeal and earnestness which its importance demands, you 

 may certainly effect. I cannot believe that a wise and intelligent 

 Legislature will longer deny your prayer. It may be said, that we 

 have in this country no examples from which to copy an institution of 

 this kind. No matter. They exist abroad, in the full tide of success, 

 far beyond the probation of experiment; the Hofwyl School, in Swit- 

 zerland, founded by Fellenburgh, for example, to say nothing of oth- 

 ers, equally successful, in other countries of Europe. To them might 

 Commissioners repair, at a moderate expense, for models of instruc- 

 tion, so far as they are adapted to our wants and condition; and were 

 it not so, it is but a poor commentary upon American ingenuity and 

 enterprize, to halt at any thing supposed to be ultimately attainable, 

 without the strongest effort to effect it; and we can no more doubt 

 the final success of institutions of this kind, than we can doubt the 

 conquering career of the steam engine, or the electric battery. 



