310 f Assembly 



My duty calls me but to open the gates of this Castle. You come 

 and salute its giant — Young Grizly, unconquerable ; but not like 

 Hurlothrumbo, or Jack the Giant Killers' giants — carnivorous, fierce 

 and bloody, but the Giant of American Industry, whose glory it is to 

 feast your eyes and gratify your tastes, and aid you in all your wants, 

 by his countless works. See for yourselves, examine carefully, or 

 perhaps you will overlook some woik of genius — of an apprentice — 

 of a keen mechanic — of a philosophical machinist. Let your senses 

 be fully awakened by the wonderful art of thousands of Americans, 

 who have voluntered them to this exhibition, 



I would most gladly enter on a detail of the precious things here 

 spread before you. But you yourselves need no urging from me. 

 The farm and the garden are here represented in noble style. Those 

 who belong to the delicious Kingdom of Pomona are here with their 

 Cornucopias, precious vegetable gems are in them ; then the farm 

 presents its samples — the farm ! whose annual product in this Republic 

 is worth in gold more money than can be expected from all the placers 

 of California in a hundred years ! Why let me remind you that the 

 little island of Great Britian, on its farms, in 1844, by report of 

 Parliament, raised in one year three thousand millions of dollars of 

 which almost one half was in the turnips and their uses. You are 

 aware that our grass is worth over one hundred millions of dollars v. 

 year. You see that cheese which several men are required to lift. 

 Our cheeses have now acquired a fine quality which recommends them 

 to all the world, and for quantity, no man counts it. 



Washington 1 our great farmer Washington, Pater Patriee, foresaw 

 and worked and continually talked to this end. Let me read an extract 

 from a letter of Tobias Lear, dated Mount Vernon, March 30, 1787: 



" One cannot in my situation here, avoid acquiring scribe considera- 

 " ble knowledge of a farmer's life, even if averse to it. General 

 " Washingtion is one of the greatest farmers in America, and I don't 

 " think I should be much out, if I was to say, in the world. He 

 " possesses in one body nearly ten thousand acres of land — employs 

 " upon it constantly two hundred and fifty hands. He raises none of 

 " that pernicious weed, tobacco ! He directs every thing that is carried 



