2Q4 [AsSEMBLl'' 



ful properties of grapes, a single statement will be satisfactory. 

 Some years ago, while a French army was going to Italy, they halt- 

 ed for a time at the foot of the Alps. While there, a malignant dy- 

 sentery broke out among them, and men died with alarming rapidity. 

 The disease baffled all the efforts of the French army physicians — 

 and of their skill, fame has borne abundant witness. They went ta 

 an eminent physician of the town near by, craving his counsel. 

 "Give them ripe grapes," said he; " send out your commissaries and 

 buy up all the vineyards; let those who are able, go into them and 

 eat as long as they choose, and bring in enough for their feebler com- 

 panions." This advice was followed, and to the surprise of the army, 

 the disease was instantly stopped. No more weie taken sick, and 

 many who had been given up to die, recovered. 



Dr. Underbill was glad to hear this confirmation of his experience 

 from a gentleman so trite and correct in his observations, as the ho- 

 norable chairman. 



Mr. Wakeman observed, that much had been said of the great 

 stress laid upon protection, by the American Institute. He thought 

 that members should be guarded in expressing their views. He had 

 b«een a member from the first, and never knew a question of politics 

 raised. The first address was issued to the public by the Institute 

 almost twenty years ago. It was then unanimously approved in a 

 full meeting at Tammany Hall, by all political parties. Col. Few, 

 one of the grand sachems of Tammany, presided at the meeting, and 

 signed the address as president, and John Mason, one of our best and 

 most successful merchants, as vice-president. Not a whisper that it 

 was political, from any quarter. The same principles have been ad- 

 vocated down to this time, and unhesitatingly sanctioned by the 

 members composed of all parties. What grand discovery is now 

 made, that has escaped the keen vision of all that have gone before? 

 It is preposterous! I can bear witness, that to my recollection, 

 among all the members admitted for nineteen years, I never heard 

 the question, to what political party the candidate belonged. And 

 e\'ery clerk will bear testimony to the same. At his request, 



Mr. Meigs read a portion of the records of the Institute, dated 

 March 11th, 1S2S, as follows: 



ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTI- 

 TUTE. 



At a meeting of the "American Institute of the city of New- 

 York," held at Tammany Hall on the 11th of March, 1828, the 



