ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 



Before the American Institute, on tlie 12th of October, 1848. 



By the Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, D. D., of New-York. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen of the American Institute: 



My appearance before you in the attitude of a speaker on this 

 occasion, has been most unexpected to myself. I trust my audience 

 may be plainly informed that at the last moment of expectation, your 

 appointed and highly qualified annual orator failed to come. Doubt- 

 less his well stored mind would have poured forth before you rich 

 and attractive instructions upon some chosen department of the great 

 subjects which engage your attention and care. Why, in this great 

 community of learned and intelligent men, you should have selected 

 myself as a substitute upon such an occasion, and so earnestly 

 pressed upon me the fulfilment of the task w^hich imperative duty 

 had required him to leave, I know not. Gladly, indeed, would I 

 have shrunk from a duty, for the proper discharge of which, the 

 pressure of unceasing labors, with health by no means robust, com- 

 pletely disqualify me, even had I time allowed for thought. But in 

 such a corner of opportunity as you have placed me, what merit can 

 I have, other than a disinterested sacrifice of comfort, perhaps of 

 reputation, for your pleasure, and an honorable failure, in the at- 

 tempt to do something to prevent an absolute blank in your expect- 

 ed anniversary. I have felt in reference to your earnest and re- 

 peated solicitations for this effort, much like saying with the old 

 patriarch, " if it must be so now, take of the best fruits of the land 

 in your vessels; a little balm and a little honey, and myrrh and spi- 

 ces, and nuts and almonds," and go down, peradventure kindness 

 will receive an offering, however mean, which is the best you have, 

 or in the time are able to obtain. 



The great and interesting object of your Institute I understand to 

 be the encouragement of domestic industry, and of the improvements 



