660 [Assembly 



tion to deliver a lecture on that subject in this city, on the first Mon- 

 day of September next. 



Mr. Wakeman called for the reading of a letter from a highly es- 

 timable gentlemen of the West, which was read. 



Extract of a letter from a gentlemen residing in one of the wes- 

 tern counties of this State. 



Fultonville, 26th June, 1847. 



Mr. Wakeman: 



Dear Sir — The petition to the Legislature for aid to the American 

 Institute for the splendid object of establishing an Agricultural 

 School and Experimental Farm, [with a garden I presume,] near the 

 city of New-York, was duly received on the 14th instant, and fortu- 

 nately the court of common pleas were in session, and the medical 

 society of the county were in convention. The judges, clerk, sheriif, 

 surrogate and gentlemen of the bar, and the gentlemen of the medi- 

 cal society, then also convened, all signed, promptly and cheerfully. 

 The president of the Agricultural Society, also, who assures me that 

 officers and committees will follow suit. Several gentlemen of the 

 pulpit also promise their names and influence; that the pulpit, with- 

 out distinction of sect, will join. It will be presented to the most 

 efficient teachers of academies and common schools; manufacturers, 

 mechanics, merchants and farmers. This order of signature is adop- 

 ted to do away prejudice and suspicion, and I do not perceive how 

 the committee of the Legislature are to avoid attention, respect and 

 favor. The petition will not be laden with subscribers, but the peti- 

 tioners contain the spirit and vigor of the professionals and industri- 

 als. 



Mr. Wakeman, the theme, whether viewed politically, socially, or 

 philanthropically; historically, scientifically, morally, or religiously, 

 is exciting, overwhelming. I have already written five letters to you 

 upon the subject, each an attempt to condense, r.bridge, and supercede 

 the other; but facts, ideas, and imaginations multiplied as I wrote, 

 and are all laid aside or destroyed, as inadmissible claimants to your 

 patience. Simply inviting your leisure to an analysis of history and 

 statistics of other times, and nations, and of our own State and 

 Union lor the last seventy years. Compare the condition of nations 

 under the embarrassing influence of the feudal system, and those where 

 agriculture, science, education, and rights of person and mind, are 

 unencumbered and equal; or, the condition of plenty, peace and hap- 



