28 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



be)— lie and Colonel Humplireys, (afterwards distinguished by 

 being one of the first importers of merino sheep, some fifty or 

 sixty years ago,) and Timothy Dwight, (President of Yale Col- 

 lege)-"all three poets, who made animating verses for the benefit 

 of the soldiers of the revolution, and their spirited songs availed 

 our patriot soldiers much, in their severe toils and "dangers, and 

 no-pay sufferings. In the meantime, while our great revolution 

 was in progress. Barlow was planning an American epic poem, 

 which he baptized " The Vision of Columbus;" who saw 



■' The star of empire westward take its way." 



This " Vision" was first published in 1787. The poem distinctly 

 pointed out the way we have now gone, and the future. Dwight 

 had the same views, and took occasion (July 25th, 1776) to address 

 a class, and point out the same grand prospect of the republic — 

 " covering the whole continent, from sea to sea." He even said 

 that some of his young hearers would live to see it; and several 

 have lived to see California added to the great map. 



Let me remind you, ladies and gentlemen, as to the special 

 business for which the American Institute received its charter 

 from this State, so that all may judge as to its performance of the 

 duties assigned to it, viz. : " To promote agriculture, commerce, 

 manufactures and the arts." 



To carry out the first great duty, we have established a central 

 and convenient repository in the heart of this city, (351 Broad- 

 way,) with large, well- ventilated, warm, and gas-lighted moms, 

 with a library of 8,000 volumes, (selected,) a librarian, a special 

 secretary for the Farmers club, a corresponding secretary, and an 

 able clerk. All this is free to visitors, — is a place for reception 

 and distribution of seeds and plants, for which we constantly owe 

 thanks to our intelligent and patriotic mercantile and United 

 States naval marine, for contributions from all parts of the globe. 

 At the same repository the great mechanic interest is sustained 

 by a free club, which meets twice in every month; and where all 

 models of machines are deposited for examination, and remain 

 long enough to be well understood. New models of vessels of 

 all kinds, and any matters of interest to commerce, are placed for 



