No. 108.] 13 



city and her citizens, and prefers a special claim to the patronage 

 and support of our municipal strength. 



Besides many interesting facts presented in the petition of the 

 American Institute, and to which your committee do not hesitate to 

 give their unqualified assent, other suggestions have presented them- 

 selves to the consideration of the committee. 



As its style of incorporation implies, the x^merican Institute is an 

 offspring peculiarly our own. It is American in its character, and 

 American in its feelings — divesting itself at the same time of any 

 local or sectional feelings, while holding itself aloof from the bitter 

 strife of party politics. It was fostered and cherished in the city of 

 our birth and our adoption, while it imparts a vigor and influence 

 through every sphere of labor and enterprise. 



It appears from their memorial to the Common Council, that the 

 American Institute was incorporated in the year 1829, and conse- 

 quently under its act of incorporation has been in successful opera- 

 tion for a period of about fourteen years. 



That time elapsed, has not failed to convince even the least obser- 

 vant that its sphere of usefulness as an association has been felt and 

 appreciated beyond a parallel: building itself up, as it were, from the 

 few feeble fabrics which then surrounded it, and divesting itself of 

 that narrow and sordid spirit which appears to be a characteristic of 

 too many of our public institutions, it has gradually found its way to 

 an envied and an honorable fame. 



In the progress of its efforts, it has caused the husbandman to 

 seek new pleasures in his attention to his fields and his garners; it 

 has added an impetus to a thousand occupations; it has given influ- 

 ence to our commerce, and aided to increase the renown long attach- 

 ed to the beauty of model and perfection of workmanship of every 

 species of floating vessels. 



It has taken by the hand the man of ingenuity, and has succeeded 

 in placing him in a proper position before the world, while it has ex- 

 hibited in prominent colors, that our country possesses the material 

 which, if properly wrought upon, has the power and skill of com- 

 peting with, and even excelling, the older and more advanced pro- 

 ductions of the countries of enlightened Europe. 



