THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



In compliance \ritli the requirements of law, the trusted of 

 the American Institute herewith present their 

 ANNUAL REPORT. 



The active circle of the Institute having during the past year, 

 been somewhat circumscribed by the suspension of its annual 

 fair, the subjects of this report may be comprised within a j^ffel' 

 space. It will be proper to state here succinctly the causes which 

 led to an interregnum in our annual fairs. This is the more 

 necessary, because the subject is not in some quarters, referred to 

 its proper cause. There are some who suppose that the American 

 Institute suspended ils annual fair because of the Crystal Palaee. 

 This is a great mistake. If the Institute would not forego its 

 annual fair when the Crystal Palace was in the noontide of its 

 glory, it is not to be supposed that it would do so when the Crystal 

 Palace had lost all the prestige which greeted its opening. 



To do away any misapprehension which may still exist on this 

 subject, it may be well to state the reasons which governed the 

 Institute in suspending its fair for 1854. At its annual meeting 

 in February, the New- York State Agricultural Society selected 

 New-York city for holding its next annual fair. It needed but 

 little reflection to convince all parties that two great fairs could 

 not be held in this city at the same time, without materially 

 detracting from the interest of both. But who should give way? 

 The State Society took the initiative, and prior to our annual 

 election appointed a committee to wait upon the Institute. The 

 latter appointed a committee of conference, and an arrangemeat 

 was effected, that the Institute would suspend its own fair, and 

 unite with the State Society. This arrangement was carried out 

 in good faith by both parties, the Institute, however, not deriving 

 therefrom any pecuniary advantage whateverj on the contrary, 



