Industrial Exhibitions in the City of New York. 117 



Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen. Mr. Griscom proceeded to 

 give a detailed account of his visit to Europe, from whence he had 

 just returned, and especially his interview with the principal work- 

 ing establishments of England and Scotland, with a view of ascer- 

 taining their proficiency and excellence, in order to impart to his 

 countrymen what he thought would be of advantage to the mechanic 

 and manufacturer. He suggested what he believed would greatly 

 benefit them, not only in increased perfection of the workmen, but 

 also stimulate a laudable rivalry in the market to excel. This was 

 organizing an institution to impart Mechanical Science .and Chemis- 

 try as applied to the arts, by means of public lectures, with experi- 

 ments on such subjects, and by awarding premiums for the best pro- 

 ductions of the workshops, especially to the apprentices, in order to 

 stimulate them to greater perfection in their work ; also to have 

 public exhibitions of the productions of the workshops and manu- 

 factories, which would tend to encourage the domestic industry 

 of the county. He also proposed to give a course of lectures on Medi- 

 cal Science and Chemistry, as applied to the arts ; to commence at 

 once. After listening to Mr. Griscom's statements a meeting was 

 organized ; Stephen Allen, then mayor, was called to the chair, and 

 Lewis "Wilcox appointed secretary ; when on a free exchange of 

 opinion, a committee of seven was appointed, consisting of Stephen 

 Allen, John J. Labagh, Thos. R. Mercien, Thomas Richards, Jonas 

 Humbert, Lewis Wilcox and Joseph P. Simpson, to consider and 

 report on the subject at a future meeting. The meeting adjourned to 

 meet at the call of the committee. This committee met in the hall 

 of the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, corner of Broad- 

 way and Park place. After considerable discussion, a majority of 

 the committee was in favor of only forming a class to attend the 

 course of lectures to be given by Dr. Griscom, as he proposed, but 

 Mr. Joseph P. Simpson insisted on taking immediate measures to 

 form an institution that should sustain lectures on Medical and Chemi- 

 cal Science ; collect a library and have a reading room, to promote 

 mechanical knowledge ; also to have an annual public exhibition of 

 the productions of the workshops and the manufactories, and award 

 premiums for the best specimens of the different articles exhibited ; 

 in this he was seconded by Jonas Humbert, and this was finally 

 acceded to by the committee. 



At a meeting held the 15th of December, an association was formed 

 under the name of The New York Mechanics' Association ; but this 

 was subsequently altered to that of the New York Mechanics' and 



