Ko. 216.] 667 



ly one-half. When we wanted lasting portraits of our great 

 "Statesmen or other eminent men, Mr Blanchard again appears, 

 saying : 'Gentlemen give me a plaster cast, and from that pattern 

 my machine shall turn you a marble bust of any one you may wish' 

 — and yonder they are ; a Clay and a Webster : — the Statesmen of 

 our country! (Applause.) 



Here we have an article of Glass, showing the skill of our Brook- 

 lyn neighbors on this subject. It is the most perfect thing of the 

 kind ever made by us, and contrasts strikingly with the imported 

 material of the same variety, from Kurope — that came to often yel- 

 low and dingy ; this sparkles like the diamond. It is manufactured 

 from the superior quartz or fine flint-sand found in Vermont and also 

 in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Until recently we 

 have had competitors for our premiums in Glass from Pittsburgh, Al- 

 bany, Boston, and other places still more remote. This sample from 

 the Brooklyn Works is worthy all praise and competition — ^though, 

 the vantage-ground being gained, and importation stopped by reason 

 of our most excellent productions, competition for premiums here 

 is jiot continued. Window-glass and all other productions in that 

 fabric are in like condition ; domestic production supplies domestic 

 demand. 



[The speaker here referred to the article of Rock Salt ; concern- 

 ing the positive existence of which in our country much discussion 

 has been held, but to ascertain with accuracy its existence no de- 

 cisive steps have ever been taken. The question appeared settled, 

 by the exhibition of a specimen of the substance, of 40 lbs. weight, 

 brought overland by Mr. Letson from the so-called, "Jefferson 

 Salt Mountain," in Oregon, between the Rocky and Blue Moun- 

 tains . It is a level (and not a mountain) of about 50 miles diam- 

 eter. There were a few thoughts thrown out on the origin, use, 

 and production of the substance.] 



It is due to the Institute to say that there has been a steady pro- 

 gress in the Mechanic Arts^ There are now exhibited 100 or 200 

 inventions or adaptations, either entirely new or useful additions to 

 others. Here (indicating the direction) see the improvement in 

 Agricultural Implements: this Fork you could tie it up, put it in the 

 pocket, treat all manner of ways, and it, as you see, ' springs back 

 to its right position instantly on being released. We also point you 

 to the Ploughs and other tools, too numerous to admit of detail. 



