192 [Senate 



The difficulty is not that our fabrics are not equal to those of Eu- 

 rope, but the idea had gone abroad that nothing of Anaerican produc- 

 tion couhl possibly be as good as the imported article. 



General Tallmadge said he was sorry to be obliged to say, 

 that this anti-American feeling was encouraged and strengthened by 

 the example of men in high places. Even our Congress (as an Ameri- 

 can he was ashamed to acknowledge it, but the truth must be told,) 

 even our Congress when they wanted a new carpet to set their repub- 

 lican feet upon, must needs send to England for it — leaving unnoticed 

 and untouched, a better and a cheaper article, grown on the backs of 

 sheep, and manufactured by republican hands. 



Mr. Gill, of Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson Co., Ohio, presented for the 

 examination of the Convention, a model oi his Ventilating Cradle. 

 The design of this cradle is to save labor in cleaning the worms, and 

 to give them, at the same time, the benefit of a local circulation of 

 the air. In the experience of Mr. G. and several others, this cradle, 

 with the open ^Aed or tent^ curtails expenses one-Afi//", and adds greatly 

 to the quantity and the quality of the crop. The convention heard 

 Mr. G's explanations with a great deal of satisfaction, having full 

 confidence in the utility of the system. 



Mr. Pratt, of Shelbourne, Mass., laid on the table a very neat 

 card of specimen silk goods, manufactured by his daughters, of the 

 age of ten and thirteen, and knit by an invalid sister. He gave a 

 succinct history of his experience in rearing worms, and preparing 

 the silk for the knitting needle. He expressed the fullest confidence 

 in the success of the silk-worm on this continent. 



A resolution was next passed that a subscription list be opened to 

 defray the expense of printing the report. That each delegate and 

 member of the convention be a committee to collect funds in his 

 neighborhood; and that all subscribers be entitled to the full amount 

 of their subscription in copies of the report at cost. 



The president here gave an interesting sketch of the rise, progress, 

 and prospects of the American Institute. He urged the subscription 

 committee to proceed boldly. The proprietors of the principal ho- 

 tels in this city; the merchants and others who derive a benefit from 

 the influx of strangers to the exhibition, he thought would be liberal 

 in aiding the cause. The princely proprietor of Howard's House 

 had offered his name as good for <$50, and others would follow this 

 generous example doubtless. For himself, the General offered his 

 cheerful aid to help on the work — he was ready to share equally 

 the expense and the demand on his personal services. Hitherto they 

 had been given freely, and he was not yet drained in his good inten- 

 tions. 



But before he put the motion to adjourn, he tendered to the press 

 of the city, which had so generously aided the cause of the Institute 

 in their exertions for public favor, and in giving place in their co- 

 lumns to the reports of the convention — he particularly tendered the 

 thanks of the convention to the reporters of the Herald and Express, 

 for the correct and faithful reports of their proceedings. The meet- 

 ing was then declared adjourned. 



