Mr. Butler's Discourse. 



but faithful record of our progress. Let the members of the 

 Albany Institute perform their portion of the work, by 

 making such enquiries, and collecting such materials, as may 

 be found within their reach ; and let us indulge the hope that 

 the reproach which now rests on this department of our liter- 

 ature, may ere long be successfully removed- 

 Interesting, however, as is the past history of our state, 

 and useful as our labors in this department of learning may 

 be, we are invited to the higher and nobler duty of assisting 

 in the preparation of materials for its future history, and this 

 not merely by collecting and preserving memorials of passing 

 transactions — though such labors have their use — but by con- 

 tributing to the improvement of the present generation, and 

 especially of the younger part of it. The general diffusion of 

 knowledge will furnish the most valuable materials for the 

 future annalist, and give birth to results which will reflect 

 glory from his page. As the great object of our association is 

 practical and permanent utility, rather than scientific display, 

 or present reputation, I shall make no apology for dwelling at 

 length, on some of the modes in which we have it in our power 

 to contribute to this end. 



1. Permit me then to remind you, that the Albany Inst ; - 

 tute, if its members will but nerve themselves to the task, 

 may be made the instrument of extending throughout the 

 state, by a proper attention to the useful arts and to the phys- 

 ical sciences , benefits the most permanent. A great part of 

 the state is yet waste and unsettled, and probably, considera- 

 ble portions are incapable of cultivation ; but the general fer- 

 tility of its soil ; its peculiar position in reference to the ocean, 

 and to our great inland seas ; its commercial advantages ; its 

 great extent of artificial navigation ; all unite to encourage 

 the expectation, that its population will continue to increase, 

 at least for the next century, in a ratio nearly as great as that 

 which has signalized the last. 



It is obvious, therefore, that every thing connected with 

 those arts which minister to the wants, the comforts, and the 

 elegancies of life, is entitled, with us, to peculiar and increas- 

 ing interest. 



As agriculture furnishes to all classes of society, the chief 



