118 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Scientific Institution, and a constitution was adopted. On the 9th 

 January, 1822, the following were elected officers and managers of 

 the same : Stephen Allen, president ; Gideon Lee, first vice-presi- 

 dent ; Henry Ecford, second vice-president ; John Slidell, third 

 vice-president; Nicholas Haight, treasurer; Thomas R. Mercien, 

 corresponding secretary ; Joseph C. Hart, curator ; and as managers, 

 John McComb, Jacob Lorillard, Isaac Pierson, Alexander M. Muir, 

 Clarkson Crolins, Thomas Richards, Mordecai M. Noah, Jonas Hum- 

 bert, James S. Martin, James P. Allaire, Hugh McCormick, Joseph P. 

 Simpson, Samuel Akerly, John Griscom, John Olmsted, Isaac Lucas 

 and Joseph Smith. On the 22d of March, 1822, an act of incorpora- 

 ■tion was passed by the Legislature, incorporating Gideon Lee, Hugh 

 McCormick, Alexander M. Muir, Clarkson Crolins, Joseph Smith, 

 Thos. R. Mercein, John Slidell, Joseph P. Simpson, Jonas Humbert, 

 James S. Martin, Lewis Wilcox, Thomas Richards and James P. 

 Allaire, by the name of the New York Mechanic and Scientific Insti- 

 tution, with the officers and managers named therein, so elected Janu- 

 ary 9th, with the exception of M. M. Noah, whose name was erased, 

 and that of Peter Sharpe substituted ; this incident shows how party 

 politics interfere with private enterprises for the general good. 



The institution proceeded with its arrangement to have public lec- 

 tures on mechanical and chemical science. To accomplish this, it 

 proceeded to appoint a professor of mechanical and chemical science, 

 and a professor of diseases incident to the manufactory and workshop. 

 John Griscom was appointed to the first, and Samuel Akerly to the 

 second. The lectures were well attended, and the institution began 

 a career that argued well for the cause of domestic industry and 

 development of the mechanic arts; and as one of its objects was to 

 excite a feeling of improvement with apprentices, an arrangement was 

 made to hold an exhibition for the award of premiums for the best 

 specimens 'of their work, to be held on the 4th of July, 1822, at the 

 Apprentices' Hall, then located in Chambers street, near Chatham. A 

 private subscription was made for that purpose, as the Institute had 

 no funds. A statement of the proceedings of that exhibition, as 

 published at the time, is herewith presented, which demonstrates the 

 interest that was awakened by the enterprise, and the great good to 

 be anticipated in the result of the future progress of the institution. 



On the same day the charter, constitution, by-laws and an appro- 

 priate address were put in circulation. This was the induction of the 

 first society or institution of the kind and purpose in this country, 

 and deserved more than a passing remark respecting its connections 



