4 Transactions of the American Institute. 



were admirable. The extent and variety of the -useful and beautiful 

 works of nature and art displayed reflected the highest . credit on- 

 the exhibitors; and the fact that these works were examined by the 

 largest number of visitors yet drawn to an exhibition by the Ameri- 

 can Institute is sufficient evidence that their commendable qualities 

 were fully appreciated by the public. The receipts from all sources 

 at this Exhibition were $S5,253.10, and the disbursements thus far 

 $64,028.84. Several bills still unpaid will reduce the net profits to 

 about $18,500. To this sum should be added the amount expended 

 for materials, which can be used at future exhibitions, $8,400, which 

 shows the actual profit of this one to be $26,900. For this gratifying 

 result the Institute is mainly indebted to the indefatigable exertions 

 of the managers, under whose agency and personal supervision all the 

 important operations and multifarious business of the Exhibition were 

 conducted. 



Unabated interest has been evinced during the past year in the 

 weekly meetings of the Farmers' Club. The discussions of questions 

 relating to practical agriculture are carried on, not only by the mem- 

 bers present, but by correspondents from all parts of the Union, and, 

 in this manner, the opinions of the club are very widely disseminated. 



The weekly sessions of the Polytechnic Association, now held on 

 Friday evenings, so as not to interfere with the regular meetings of 

 the Institute, are devoted chiefly to science and its application in the 

 useful arts. Papers by distinguished mechanicians, engineers and 

 chemists, and notes on the progress of invention and discovery, occupy 

 that portion of time not used in examining plans and models of new 

 labor-saving devices. 



Monthly meetings of the Photographical Section are held, which 

 are now open to the whole fraternity of photographers. The chemical 

 action of light, the formation of sensitive compounds, the construc- 

 tion of the camera and the new improvements proposed for taking 

 sun pictures, are the principal topics discussed by this society. 



Those who have recently visited the library of the Institute, must 

 have been favorably impressed by the changes made under the direc- 

 tion of the committee in charge. The appearance of the room has 

 been greatly improved, and the new furniture has increased the com- 

 fort and convenience of visitors. Valuable additions of books have 

 been made, from time to time, during the past year. 



The very large attendance at the Academy of Music, during the 

 delivery of the last course of scientific lectures before the American 

 Institute, was the best proof that the action of the Trustees, in rela- 



