196 [Assembly 



elicited. By this method, the reading and experience of one hundred 

 men for twenty years, is made available to all present in a single hour. 

 When the tempering of steel was our subject, it became evident, that 

 on leaving the room, every person present knew more of the matter 

 than any one, however practical, at the commencement of the meet- 

 ing. The public journals throughout the country have published re- 

 ports of these meetings, and these reports are coniinually referred to 

 for information. 



A faculty has also been established, and professors appointed to the 

 different departments, whose duties are to furnish information gratis 

 to those who may apply for it. 



By an agreement made with the corporation of the city, the tables of 

 our reading rooms are furnished with all the useful periodicals of the 

 day, both foreign and domestic ; and these rooms, together with our 

 large and well-selected library, are thrown open to the use of the pub- 

 lic, being the only free library in the city. This agreement was 

 made with the corporation in consideration of their granting us a lease 

 of our rooms for ten years. 



Our repository contains 254 models of useful inventions, presented 

 to the Inslilute by the originators, and these are daily examined by 

 those having occasion for such machines. Also, a collection of seeds, 

 wax fruits, minerals, artificial and natural manures, mechanical draw- 

 ings, &c. 



The silk conventions fostered by our Institute call together the silk 

 culturists and manufacturers throughout the country ; and the lauda- 

 ble emulation excited by our premiums awarded for silks, is fast do- 

 ing away with the necessity of paying European silk growers a sum 

 nearly equal the total revenue of the country yearly for this mate_ 

 rial. 



The amount of silk goods imported in 1837 was $23,000,000. 



In the year 1828 our Institute imported the Italian mulberry seeds, 

 and through the enterprise of our member, Doct. Pascalis, the morus 

 multicaulis was the same year introduced into this country, being but 

 one year after its introduction into France. 



Tiie two reports of our silk conventions, published by the Legis- 

 lature of this State, contain more information on the subject of silk 



