No. 216.] 687 



Mr. Meigs, of New York, complied with the request to address 

 the meeting, in a speech full of information and eloquence. He 

 began by adverting to the views of his early friend, that wonderful 

 man, a native of Long Island, who in Congress used to be styled the 

 " library," the late Dr. Mitchell. 



Dr. M. loved Long Island, and believed her richly stored with all 

 those materials, calcareous and others, necessary for high and pro- 

 fitable cultivation. He made no exception to exclude the plains. 



Mr. Meigs stated many facts as to the Island, from the geological 

 survey of this State, which originated from the American Institute 

 on motion of Mr. Edwin Williams, who was then present; all which 

 went to show that the Island not only had sand, gravel and loam, 

 but varieties of clay, in many parts very abundant even for bricks, 

 and in all so as to furnish what was requisite of this ingredient, for 

 a productive soil. 



Before the revolution. Long Island suffered from bad culture and 

 shallow ploughing, and the system of getting all you can and give 

 nothing back to the land. He alluded to Mr. Taylor, of Virginia, 

 who demonstrated that right culture would restore even the waste 

 lands of Virginia, and all others; culture proceeding on the simple 

 process of nature, by which the forest enriches the land year by year, 

 by its falling leaves and decaying limbs, yet increases continually its 

 own growth. This mode of culture was all that was requisite to 

 make Long Island, in every part, a most productive region. For the 

 various productions of the garden, field and orchard, it was highly 

 adapted, and also for the vine and the silk mulberry. 



We can give but a brief abstract of some of his thoughts, with 

 none of his animating eloquence. 



A call was next made for Dr. Peck, of Jamaica, who has gained 

 some just reputation for his good interest in the culture of Long 

 Island, particularly in the improvement of the immense plains now 

 lying almost waste and sterile in the centre of the Island, on each 

 side of the railroad. 



The Dr. said, Mr. President, sir, you really do me great honor, to 

 call for anything that I can say, when there are here present, so many 

 gentlemen, so highly distinguished for science, learning and talents, 

 and who can furnish richer gratification to the audience, yet as it 

 was said by the celebrated Dr. Watts, that it could not be expected 



