L20 Transactions of the American Institute. 



vious exhibitions. Four gold, twenty silver medals, and about fifty 

 diplomas in gilt frames were awarded. John Quincy Adams, then 

 President of the United States, on a visit to his homestead, stopped 

 in New York and spent some time in inspecting this exhibi- 

 tion. He approved very much the object of the Institute, and thought 

 it would be of great importance to the country. This exhibition did 

 not pay its expenses. A difficulty between the two professors of 

 medical science, which had existed for some time, had now become 

 so persona] that it produced a division of feeling and discord gene- 

 rally among the members. The Institute being in debt, no other 

 exhibition was held, and its meetings ceased. Thus an institution 

 conceived in wisdom, and calculated to be of great benefit to the 

 mechanical interest of the country, was compelled to abandon its 

 work. A former member, dying some years after, made a bequest to 

 enable it to pay its debts, and to give a large sum to the apprentices' 

 library. 



In the month of January, 1828, a public meeting was held at Tam- 

 many Hall, then opposite the City Hall, to consider the industrial inte- 

 rests of the country. The late Thaddeus B. Wakeman, long secretary 

 of the American Institute, was the means of said meeting being held. 

 Having been one of the first merchants who took an interest in the first 

 exhibition of the New York Mechauic and Scientific Institution, after 

 its failure he conceived the idea of setting on foot a movement for the 

 organization of another similar institution. At this meeting a com- 

 mittee of seven was appointed to consider the subject. 



This committee met at Stonehall's Hotel, corner of Nassau and 

 Fulton streets, and organized a society which was chartered by the 

 State Legislature, May 2d, 1829, under the name of the American 

 Institute of the City of New York. 



Its fair was held the year before at Masonic Hall, then standing in 

 Broadway, between Duane and Pearl streets. The beginning pro- 

 mised well. In 1829 a fair was held at the same place, also in 1830. 

 Each of these three fairs were financially unsuccessful ; the receipts 

 not meeting the expenses. In 1831, a fair was held with better suc- 

 cess. The display of goods was large, and their quality was 

 improved. Having succeeded in procuring the Hon. Edward Everett, 

 of Boston, to deliver the annual address, we drew a large audience 

 to hear him in the church in "Walker street. The result of this fair 

 was the saving of about $1,000. From this small beginning the 

 American Institute has steadily grown until it has attained a world- 

 wide influence. 



