That proposed Convention was held, and 

 the State Society was organized. 



At that time we supposed these were the 

 first effectual movements in this State in 

 behalf of a State Agricultural Society. 

 But this was not so. A State Agricultur- 

 al Society was formed in Illinois in 1819. 

 How long it existed we have no means of 

 stating. Recently there was put into our 

 hands a copy of the Illinois Intelligencer, 

 which was published at Kaskaskia, by 

 Blackwell & Berry, and dated, "Wednes- 

 day, iS^ov. It, 1819." In this paper we find 

 the proceedings of a meeting of farmers 

 and mechanics in Kaskabkia (then the seat 

 of government,) in which the expediency of 

 organizing a State Agricultural Society 

 was discussed, and the proposition carried 

 into effect. We doubt not that the perusal 

 of the documents connected with this sub- 

 ject, at this later day in the history of eur 

 State, will be of interest to our readers. 

 We therefore copy them. With the excep- 

 tion of a single individual named in these 

 documents, all have paid the great debt of 

 nature. That exception is the Hon. Ed- 

 ward Coles, once Grovernor of this State, 

 and long private Secretary to Thomas Jef- 

 ferson. He now resides in Philadelphia. 



The "objects" proposed to be accomplish- 

 ed by theslirst State Agricultural Society 

 of Illinois, can hardly be improved on by 

 any modern Society. The early fathers of 

 our State made a movement in the right 

 direction. Why the Society failed of suc- 

 cess, we are not informed. We would be 

 glad to learn its further history, and Rev. 

 Dr. Peck, at that period u citizen of Illi- 

 nois, and familiar with the events of the 

 day, could, most likely furnish the desired 

 information, — wiiich would be gratifying to 

 ourselves and our readers. 



"At a meeting of a number of gentlemen 

 ( farmers j from different parts of the State 

 of Illinois, held at Kaskaskia, on the 10th 

 of November, 1819, pursuant to public in- 

 vitiition, for the purpose of considering the 

 expediency of forming a State Agricultural 

 Suciety, Gov. Bond was called to the 

 Chair, and Henry S. Dodge appointed Sec- 

 retary. 



On motion of Edward Coles, seconded 



by Dr. John H. Lambert, it was unani 

 mously 



Resolved, That it is expedient to form 

 an Agricultural Society for the State of 

 Illinois, and that this meeting do hereby 

 agree to constitute themselves such Society. 



Resolved, That a committee of five be 

 appointed to prepare a body of rules and 

 regulations for the government of such So- 

 ciety, and that the Chairman appoint such 

 committee. 



The Chair accordingly named MessM. 

 Edward Coles, Morris Birkbeck, Nathaniel 

 Pope, John M'Ferron, and Henry S. Dodge. 



Resolved, That the meeting adjourn un- 

 til 3 o'clock this afternoon. 



HENRY S. DODGE, Sec'ry. 



3 o'clock p. m. 



At an adjourned meeting of the Agri- 

 cultural Society of the State of Illinois* 



Mr. .Birkbeck, on the part of the com- 

 mittee to whom it was referred to prepare 

 a body of rules and regulations for the gov- 

 ernment of the society, reported: 



That the committee had performed the 

 duty assigned to them as well as the short- 

 ness of the time would allow, and offered to 

 the consideration of the society the follow- 

 ing rules^nd regulations, which, after some 

 discussion, were unanimously adopted. 

 Sules and Regulations of the Agricultural So" 

 ciety of the State of Illinois. 



The undersigned, farmers of the State of 

 Illinois, duly appreciating the importance, 

 both in a general and individual point of 

 view, of an improved system of agricul- 

 ture, and of one adapted to the peculiar na- 

 ture of this State; persuaded that agricul- 

 tural associations have proved eminently 

 beneficial to other States and countries, and 

 that they would be particularly so to this; 

 and desirous to procure for themselves and 

 their neighbors the advantages of such in- 

 stitutions, have determined to associate toge- 

 ther and to constitute an Agricultural So- 

 ciety, having for its attention and inquiry, 

 among others, the following objects, and for 

 its government the rules and regulations 

 hereinafter specified. 



FIRST. — OBJECTS, &C. 



To collect and associate the farmers to- 

 gether — thus making them personally ac- 

 quainted with each other, and with the 

 systems of husbandry pursued by each — 

 and exciting in all a spirit of inquiry and 

 emulation. 



To hold meetings for the instruction of 

 its members; and to receive essays and 

 communications from individuals and from 

 other societies. 



