No. 216.] 27 



fare, and persisting through severe trials, until their efforts have been 

 crowned with entire success. All associations are, necessarily, 

 accessible to wily and designing men, whose every act almost covers 

 a sinister motive. From such, we may or may not at all times be 

 exempt. We claim, however, the virtue which belongs to constant 

 watchfulness, and a readiness to expose any and every act which 

 tends to a betrayal of public confidence. The annexed statement of 

 the gross proceeds of our annual exhibitions for a series of years, 

 confirms us in the opinion that there is no diminution of public 

 confidence. 



Gross receipts of the Fair of 1S39, $8,831 40 



1840, 6,581 25 



1841, 7,050 00 



1842, 6,741 75 



1843, 8,808 80 



1844, 10,249 71 



1845, 12,600 43 



1846, 14,312 00 



1847, 15,275 27 



The exhibition of agricultural implements was uncommonly large, 

 and in many particulars the articles were very much improved. 

 Such was the variety, the excellence of construction, and improve- 

 ments, in practical application, that it will be difficult in a summary 

 report to particularize; nor shall we attempt it, lest injustice be done. 

 We will only express a wish that every agricultural man could have 

 examined for 'himself; and we hazard nothing in saying each would 

 have felt amply compensated for his trouble. The application of 

 labor-saving machines to agricultural pursuits is of vast importance. 

 We feel confident in assuring the public that the eflforts of the Ame- 

 rican Institute wnll be steadily directed to this object; and may we 

 not anticipate, that through it, under the generous patronage of its 

 friends, the day is not distant when we may witness the perfection 

 of the steam plow, for general application, the steam reaper, and the 

 steam hay maker — all within the reach of husbandmen of the most 

 moderate means. 



An accident occurred during the Fair which excited general sym- 

 pathy. An interesting child, daughter of an estimable lady of this 

 city, lost all the fingers of her right hand in one of the straw cutting 

 machines. The circumstances were purely accidental, and we be- 

 lieve the slightest blame does not attach to any one. Such, how- 

 ever, was the feeling occasioned by the accident that the contribu- 



