( H. ) 



Address delivered during the 18th Annual Fair, on Ameri- 

 can Progress, by H. C. Westervelt, Esq, 



The return of the presejit anniversary of the fair of the American 

 Institute, is a convincing proof of its stability and enterprise, and an ad- 

 ditional evidence of its character and importance ; and like the faith- 

 ful steward, she presents herself before the public, adding new talents 

 and new treasures to the numerous works of utility and enterprise, 

 which have before grown up under her fostering care. And while ar- 

 ticles of ingenuity and invention are rapidly springing up in every 

 quarter of our vast repubhc, this noble Institute takes them by the 

 hand, and charitably guides them to the road of competition, encou- 

 ragement and success. 



And although many a useful project may have been too early aban- 

 doned by the inventor for want of a proper introduction to the commu- 

 nity, yet it can not be said with any appearance of truth, that here, in 

 these exhibitions, or by any impartiality of this corporation, that their 

 merits have at any time been passed over in silence or wilful neglect ; 

 but, on the contrary, every exertion is made to add strength and credit 

 to mechanical skill and agricultural industry, and to give an impetus 

 to the innumerable creations of domestic invention. In fact, wherever 

 we may turn, either here or elsewhere, we have reason to feel ex- 

 tremely grateful for the improvement in every branch of home indus- 

 try and domestic manufactures. 



If we go to our colleges and schools, we find that the principles of 

 education, and the manifold varieties of knowledge, are gradually be- 

 coming more and more developed. 



Industry and enterprise obtains the ascendancy over sluggishness 

 and error, and the way to science, once obscure and doubtful, gradu- 

 ally becomes more plain and simple. 



