Annual Address. 3 



wisdom that in their political action had called forth the 

 admiration of Burke and the eloquent commendations 

 of Chatham. 



In view of this state of things, a meeting of some of the 

 most eminent citizens of this state was held in February, 

 1791, in the Senate chamber in the city of ]STew York, that 

 being then the seat of government of the state, for the 

 purpose of organizing a state society for the promotion of 

 agriculture, manufactures and the arts. At this meeting 

 Ezra L'Hommedieu, one of the most distinguished agricul- 

 turists of the state, presided, and Chancellor Livingston, 

 Simeon DeWitt and Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill were appointed 

 a committee to prepare and report rules and regulations for 

 the government of the society. The scheme of organization 

 which they reported and which was adopted, was in breadth 

 of view worthy of the men who presented it, and of the 

 great interests it sought to promote. It at once gave to 

 the society a scope that embraced the three leading inter- 

 ests of agriculture, manufactures and the arts, and an 

 organization coextensive with the state. It provided, 

 among other things, and this may be not unworthy of 

 notice, for the division of the state into districts corre- 

 sponding with the several counties as they then existed, 

 and for the election of a secretary residing in each district 

 who should organize local meetings, oversee local work 

 and be the medium of influence and communication 

 between the district and the central society. Chancellor 

 Livingston was chosen as the first president and held the 

 office up to the time of his death in 1813. An act of in- 

 corporation was obtained in 1793, which expired by its 

 own limitation in 1804, when it was permanently renewed, 

 and as thus organized the society still continues and forms 

 the first department of the Institute. 



Let us pause here a moment and glance at some of the 

 remarkable men who were among the founders of this 



