HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 129 



ity of the ladies, for a considerable share of the past year. One 

 rug, wrought by Eliza A. Bailey, of South Hadley, especially 

 excited the admiration of the committee, and met with a reward 

 of the first premium. The material of this rug was mainly 

 silk, and, though not too fine for drawing premiums, it seemed 

 rather designed to be a hanging hearth-rug, than ever to be 

 abjectly trodden under foot. 



The samples of book-binding, from J. H. Butler's bindery, 

 were among the best specimens of American binding we have 

 ever seen. The volumes of Harper's Pictorial Bible, bound by 

 his foreman, Mr. Childs, in point of massive mechanism, were 

 scarcely distinguishable from the highest style of English art. 



Among the principal novelties in invention, was a self-adjust- 

 ing railroad frog, exhibited by Wm. Wilson, of Northampton, 

 well known as a man of varied ingenuity. 



Wm. Olark, of Northampton, exhibited four specimens of 

 Prouty and Mears's self-sharpening ploughs. The fact that Mr. 

 Clark has adopted any particular pattern of plough, is a suffi- 

 cient guaranty that there is none superior. 



The committee have reserved to the close of their report, a 

 respectful notice of a beautiful specimen of reeled silk, from 

 William G. Hewes, Esq., of New Orleans. It is the result of 

 his first experiment in silk culture, he being entirely uninstruct- 

 ed in the processes which have elsewhere become better under- 

 stood. We bid Mr. Hewes a prosperous progress in a branch 

 of industry to which, we understand, he designs to apply his un- 

 remitted efforts, and offer to his acceptance the society's dip- 

 loma. 



Finally, the committee recommend a gratuity to Dr. Stebbins, 

 of Northampton, for his unremitted interest and courage, in what 

 has been, for years, his favorite study and pursuit — the silk cul- 

 ture. Several varieties of cocoons and silk-worms' eggs were 

 exposed by him, and lent an appropriate feature to the general 

 exhibition of American manufactures. 



CHARLES DELANO, Chairman. 

 17 



