AMERICAN INSTITUTE FAIR. 139 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF THE CITY OF 
NEW YORK. 
Sixteenth Annual Fair .— The great Annual 
Fair of this Institute, and exhibition of specimens 
of the productions of labor, art, and genius of our 
country, will open at Niblo’s Garden, in the City 
of New York, on Tuesday, the 10th clay of October 
next, at 9 o’clock A. M. Friday and Saturday pre¬ 
vious, are assigned for the reception of articles 
generally, whether for exhibition merely, or in 
competition for premium; and Monday, the 9th of 
October, for arranging the articles brought to the 
Fair. Exhibitors, whether for competition or not, 
desirous of favorable locations for their contribu¬ 
tions, should bring them the first receiving day, or 
early on the second, as it will enable the managers 
to perfect the general arrangement of the articles 
in season for opening the Fair to the public. Spe¬ 
cial days and times will be allotted for cattle and 
other stock, and for certain articles, such as flow¬ 
ers, &c., designed for the Agricultural and Horti¬ 
cultural rooms. Future circulars will furnish ad¬ 
ditional particulars. 
Farmers, gardeners, manufacturers, mechanics, 
artisans, and friends of improvement generally 
throughout our Republic, are invited to second the 
efforts of the Institute with their wonted American 
spirit, which, for fifteen years past, has made its 
anniversaries the pride of our country, and impart¬ 
ed to them that national character, which the 
legislature, in the formation of its charter, contem¬ 
plated. G-old and silver medals, diplomas, and 
other valuable bestowments, will be conferred as 
rewards for skill and industry, under the sanction 
of competent and disinterested judges ; and all the 
preparations and accommodations for both exhibit¬ 
ed and visitors, will be provided with the same 
liberality as on former celebrations. 
The whole receipts of the Institute have ever 
been deemed as so much placed in trust to be dis¬ 
pensed for the promotion of American industry and 
improvements; and they have always been faith¬ 
fully disbursed. This Institute, acting in the place 
of a County Agricultural Society, under a general 
law of the state, feels that the farming interest 
have high and continued claims for special regard. 
In addition to the exhibition of cattle, horses, sheep, 
swine, &c., efforts will be made to obtain a very 
full display of ail the varieties of poultry. A plow¬ 
ing match will also be held in this vicinity. 
. The productions of the factory and the work¬ 
shop, of the loom, the forge, and all the varieties 
of handicraft machinery, with new and useful in¬ 
ventions, will have places reserved for them. 
Steam power, for giving motion to machinery, and 
instruments for measuring the power required for 
various purposes, will be provided. Exhibiters 
should bear in mind that their specimens will be 
spread before more than two hundred thousand 
people, and be noticed in newspapers and publica¬ 
tions that go into all parts of the world. A num¬ 
ber of appropriate and eloquent addresses, beside 
the Anniversary, will be delivered in the large sa¬ 
loon, and at the Cattle Show, Plowing Match, Silk 
Convention, &c. 
Special premiums will be bestowed on the exhi¬ 
bition of the greatest variety of valuable household 
manufactures. A conspicuous place will be reserv¬ 
ed for the beautiful displays of the productions of 
female hands, which for fifteen years have delight¬ 
ed those immense throngs that have crowded our 
halls and saloons. Extraordinary efforts will be 
made to procure a full display of American silk. 
The statistical returns of increasing quantities the 
last few years, bring us inevitably to the conclusion, 
that this precious commodity is destined soon to 
rank with cotton and wool, in its importance as an 
American staple. For the purpose of accurately 
ascertaining the present condition and future pros¬ 
pects of this branch of domestic industry, a Silk 
Convention will be held in the City of New York, 
some time during the Sixteenth Fair. Every silk 
culturist and manufacturer in the Union is invited 
to bring their best specimens, with all the correct 
data at their command; from which a report will 
be compiled and distributed through the country, 
that will, we trust, for ever settle the question in 
favor of the cultivation of silk in the United States. 
We call upon all silk culturists and manufacturers 
to aid in this laudable object. The cry is from all 
quarters loud and often repeated; “ Give us a new 
staple to diversify labor, and new employment for 
that which machinery has displaced, and consum¬ 
mate our practical national independence.” 
In the growth of silk we have an article provi¬ 
dentially adapted to all our varied soils and lati¬ 
tudes, well calculated to counteract sectional self¬ 
ishness, and to produce a harmonious moral influ¬ 
ence ; and the vent for it in the markets of the 
world will exceed our ability to produce for centu¬ 
ries to come. Let us, if the silk culture and man¬ 
ufacture are feasible, and can be made to remuner¬ 
ate, advance at once to the point required. And 
how can this be better ascertained, than by a col¬ 
lection of facts by means of the coming exhibition 
and convention ? ^ 
We invoke the aid of those far reaching, pene¬ 
trating, disinterested minds, with true American 
hearts warm in their country’s welfare, who can 
appreciate the benefits of associations like the 
American Institute, employing its whole means to 
invigorate industry, quicken invention, and impart 
activity and fire to genius, spreading its peaceful, 
genial influences far and wide, to make man better, 
and multiply and diversify his comforts. Every 
village, district, and neighborhood, and almost 
every family, should furnish some contribution, and 
be themselves welcome participators in this great 
annual national jubilee. 
New York, July kth, 1843. 
James Tallmadge, President , 
Adoniram Chandler, 
William Inglis, | Vice Presets 
Shepherd Knapp, [ Trustees . 
Edward T. Backhouse, Treasurer , I 
Gurdon J. Leeds, Rec. Secretary, « 
T. B. Wakeman, Cor. Secretary, ) 
P. S. Editors of newspapers and other periodi¬ 
cals will confer a favor on a large portion of their 
readers, and oblige the American Institute, by one 
or more insertions of the foregoing address. 
Communications should be addressed to the 
Corresponding Secretary. 
