FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 

 or THE TRUSTEES OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The Trustees of the American Institute respectfully present, in 

 accordance with the Law of May 5, 1841, a report of the acts of 

 the Institute for the year 1856 : — 



When the Crystal Palace was first proposed as the place for 

 holding our annual exhibitions, it was with some doubt and hesi- 

 tation that we undertook it, fearing that so large a space could 

 not be filled with articles of sufficient interest to attract the pub- 

 lic. From our last annual report, it will be seen that long ere 

 the exhibition closed all doubts were dispelled by the attractive- 

 ness of the exhibition and the appreciation of the public. 



This year we looked forward to the exhibition with far more 

 hope than fear of the success; but we did not expect to surpass 

 that of the previous year. How agreeable, then, it is to report 

 that throughout every department, in variety, in usefulness, in 

 attractiveness, the exhibition of 1856 surpassed all others. The 

 number of visitors also greatly exceeded that of the previous 

 year, thus demonstrating that the exertions of the American 

 Institute to advance the interest of the consumer as well as the 

 producer, is appreciated by both. 



When we compare those countries fostering the mechanical, 

 manufacturing and scientific interests with those which are indif- 

 ferent to all these, how vast is the difference in their prosperity; even 

 thus in our own country, we compare those States which have in 

 years past been most active in the promotion of the arts and 

 sciences, how rapid is their advancement beyond those which 

 have given less attention to the same; indeed, so important has 



