ADDRESS 



Delivered before the American Institute at Castle Gar* 

 den, October 6th, 1846. 



By Harman C. Westervelt, Esq. 



Ladies and Gentlemen: — - 



The Nineteenth Annual Fair of the American Institute, . which 

 has been recently opened for the inspection and reward of the pro* 

 ducts of home ingenuity and native enterprize, we trust will contin- 

 ue to merit the favorable impressions which have been steadily hers 

 for so many successive years. In fact, while useful labor and indus- 

 try continue to meet with a protecting care, they must ever maintain 

 a controlling influence throughout our landj and the fruit of the or- 

 chard — the crops of the farm — -the results of the factory — the pur- 

 suits of the merchant, and the invention of the artizan, will progress 

 and increase, some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold. 



We propose, in the present address, to make but a limited refe- 

 rence to the origin and design of Fairs as they have existed in the 

 old countries, from time immemorial, that we may be enabled to show 

 by contrast, the different motives by which they have been controlled 

 from those whose anniversaries we continue to commemorate. 



The definition of the word fair, is a greater kind of market; which 

 in England is a privilege granted for the speedy and commodious 

 arrangements of procuring, buying and selling such articles as a place 

 may be in need of. 



In the German a fair is called messe, which also signifies a 

 mass. High masses on particular festivals collected great numbers of 

 people, and from them probably originated the first markets. 



