322 [ASSEMBLT 



been pronounced by our judges the best specimen of coarse yarn ex- 

 hibited. With all these facts and evidences before us, can any one 

 doubt that protection is the true policy of our country? In my judg- 

 ment, there is not a greater certainty of the elapse of time, than 

 there is that the people of the south, west, east and north, will before 

 long demand protection, in language not to be misunderstood or 

 disregarded. 



Let me invite your attention to these beautiful skeins of silk, 

 which were reeled at the New-York filature, in this city. This is 

 the only filature established in the country, exclusively devoted to 

 the reeling of silk. The worthy proprietor, Mr. Van Epps, has 

 here opened a permanent market for cocoons, with a view of remo- 

 ving one of the greatest obstacles with which the silk business has 

 had to contend, viz., the absence of a fixed market. And after the 

 expenditure of years of labor, wnth the investment of his funds in 

 the enterprise, w^ould it not be a melancholy sight to see such a 

 man smitten by the hand from which he had a right to expect pro- 

 tection? 



I cannot omit, in passing, to call your attention to the admirable 

 metallic boat, the invention of Mr. Joseph Francis. The boat in ex- 

 hibition is 33 feet long, made of four sheets of hard rolled copper, 

 and pressed into form in seventy minutes, by a hydraulic pressure, 

 equal to 2,OOJ,000 of pounds, by which the whole boat is modeled, 

 timbered and planked at the same time. The air chambers render 

 her an admirable life-boat, capable of sustaining immense W'eight, 

 though filled with water. It is lighter than a wooden boat; no 

 seams that can open in a hot climate; worms cannot penetrate her 

 bottom; as Mr. Francis expresses it, they w^ill find her more than a 

 match for their teeth. These boats are manufactured by Messrs. 

 Stillman, Allen & Co., Novelty Works, New-York, and we heartily 

 commend them to the notice of nautical men in particular. 



There is a case of pocket cutlery, made by John Wild, a youth 

 of this city, 15 years of age. These specimens are highly credita- 

 ble to his ingenuity and industry; our judges pronounce them equal 

 to the best imported. 



Let me show you a case of cameos, wrought by Horatio L. Tryon, 

 36 Suffolk-street, New-York; the execution is pronounced beautiful;, 

 and those who feel a pride in these ornaments may add to its grati- 

 fication the pleasure of exhibiting the native skill of one of their 

 own countrymen. 



