What Made the Institute Possible. 



327 



This, therefore, is the one respect in which Albany has an advan- 

 tage; the possession nt this groundwork r. -ar.l and sentiment, the 



and scientific culture can be built up. It is too early, perhaps, to fore- 

 cast the future with any exactness; and after all, the superstructure 

 may prove of slow growth, and amount to but little in the end. But 

 there is nothing more certain than that with half the toil and expendi- 



with other cities! more iuitahK heated for compelling commerce, it 

 could adapt itself easily to new conditions, which in the end would 

 surely prosper to its infinite honor and satisfaction. It ne*ed not part 

 with anything which it already has; but it might obtain in addition a 

 more complete development in another direction, doubling its influence 

 and attractiveness. Even if it should chance to lose something of its 

 present commercial success, it might in the end feel amply recom- 

 pensed in the exchange for other advantages. It may be that Oxford 

 and Cambridge once deplored the extinction of chain-armor or leather- 

 doublet industries, and dolefully predicted approaching ruin; but if so, 

 I think that Oxford and Cambridge could not afterward have regretted 

 their change to different conditions. Albany has now its capitol, which 

 must some day be finished, and with all its faults will rank as one of 

 the great buildings of the world, a study for artists. It has its two 

 kindred libraries; both made up not so much Avith reference to their 

 number of volumes as to such thoroughness in certain departments as 

 must make them advantageous to students. It has its State museum, 

 which in its new quarters must become an object of pride, and at once 

 magnificently begin to expand, leaving its hitherto contracted space 

 to be forgotten, except as an ugly dream. It has its astronomical ob- 

 servatory, which has already recorded its triumphs. It has its law and 

 medical colleges, to which some day may be added the only remain- 

 ing factor needed to complete its university. And it is the cathedral 

 city of two powerful dioceses, which, with becoming enterprise, are 

 signalizing their existence with beautiful and imposing edifices. All 

 these advantages must necessarily lead to further accumulations in the 

 same direction, scarcely now to be foreseen or realized. What, then, 

 will be the progress of the Institute? It must naturally increase and 

 develope, in common with all other associations around it. In company 

 with the ever growing body of political, scientific, literary and ecclesi- 

 astical talent that will more and more surely be attracted hitherward, 

 it must certainly gather into its membership new and valuable mate- 



