248 [Assembly 



Emperor of Russia, who was so wise as to appreciate its worth, 

 and presented to Dr. Mitchill his grateful thanks and a diamond 

 ring worth some thousands of dollars. 



Now, look at the polished instruments before you. Look at 

 the delicious fruits and flowers in tlie gallery. Look at the faith- 

 ful copies of them by Glover, of Fishkill, fixed as lasting models 

 fac similes of the originals. Examine further the insects injuri- 

 ous to the fruits, and become accjuainted for the first time with 

 these little destroyers, so as to be able to exterminate them and 

 not another class of insects which destroy these enemies but never 

 touch fruit. 



Think of the large supplies of delicious grapes now spread be- 

 fore us — thanks to the persevering labor and science of Dr. Uu- 

 derhill, of Croton Point, and others — no longer a dessert for the 

 rich man's tal)le, but good for a few cents in the hands of the 

 poor boys and girls. 



Who ever heard of a peach crop until of late years. Let us 

 be grateful for the peach millennium which has lately arrived, for 

 never, since the time of Adam, is it known that any people ever 

 had such a universal supply of that delicious fruit. Ultimately 

 this great republic, having all climates and soils and sui'faces, 

 will be a wonder indeed ; so great in extent that all seasons are 

 experienced at once — from heat to cold, storm to calm, rain to 

 drought. Some portions always able to supply the needed pro- 

 ductions, not only in quantity, but by science and care vast 

 improvements in quality of every thing. So much for a mere 

 hint at agriculture. 



Our next theme is commerce, foreign and domestic. What a 

 scene of thousands of river, and lake, land, and ocean steamers. 

 Hundreds of thousands of ions of coal borne swiftly from their 

 mountain beds to our fire-sides. Passengers, gold, and goods 

 transported across oceans at a speed that continually astonishes 

 us. Measure the speed by a coach and horses; only imagine the 

 steamer Pacific passing through seas as lofty as your two story 

 houses at a pace of twelve miles an hour, and let the horses try 

 that speed on Broadway, and every body will see that they have 



