308 [Assembly 



The Hon. Gentlemen then resumed his seat. 



The Governor's Island Band struck up an appropriate air. 



The President of the Institute, Gen. Tallmadge, then made a 

 few remarks substantially as follows : 



Fellow Citizens : We have the pleasure to-night to ask jou 

 to look about and witness the remarkable fact that you are now 

 standing in the largest room in America, if not the largest in the 

 world, and that this is filled with the domestic products of your 

 own country in various departments. Our public officers are now 

 taking part in the national prosperity of our manufactures by ex- 

 tending over them the protection of the laws. I hold in my 

 hand a communication from the American Consul of Upper 

 Egypt, transmitting a specimen of " Mummy Wheat" disentomb- 

 ed from the ruins of Thebes, where it has been for two thousand 

 years. This wlieat is still enclosed in its original envelope, and 

 retains its powers of vegetation. It was forwarded to Hon. 

 Edward Stanley of North Carolina, and was by him kindly com- 

 municated to the American Institute. We acknowledge it with 

 thanks to the individual, not unmingled with hopes for the per- 

 petuation of the present happy condition of our county. 



The proceedings of the evening were concluded with the music 

 of the band ; and the assemblage then dispersed. 



