THE CULTIVATOR 
179 
Messrs. Brinckerhoff of Albany, and Pumpelly of 
Ovvego on his right and left. Joel B. Nott, Esq., of 
Albany presided at the table on the left, and on his right 
and left Messrs. Sherwood of Cayuga and Col. Stone of 
New-York. 
Grace was said in an impressive manner by the Rev. 
Mr. Choules of New-York, and the company proceeded 
to the discussion of the multitude of good things, so boun¬ 
tifully provided by the gentlemanly hosts. After an on¬ 
slaught on the choice viands, which demonstrated the 
company were as much at home at the table as in the 
field, and the physical part of the man had been well 
cared for, 
Mr. Wadsworth rose under warm tokens of applause from the 
company. He adverted to the interest manifested by the public 
generally, in the enterprise in which the society had embarked 
—to the large concourse of intelligent and practical men which 
the occasion had drawn hither from various and remote states 
of the Union, and even from the Provinces—dwelling upon these 
as unequivocal and encouraging indications of the general sen¬ 
timent, as happy omens of the futu're usefulness of the society 
—as strong and cheering proofs that the great'primeval occupa¬ 
tion of man, had not lost any thing of its dignity and attraction 
in its hands. [Cheers ] He hailed these indications also in their 
wider aspect, as infallible premonitions ofthe futuiegreatness, 
independence and substantial prosperity of the American Peo¬ 
ple. And he took the occasion in passing, to pay a tribute to 
those who through good and through evil report, against so ma¬ 
ny obstacles, in spite of prejudice and ridicule, had from the 
first, sustained with their powerful influence and efforts, the 
Agricultural Society of the State of New-York. [Cheers.] He 
was sure they must now regard with honest pride the result of 
their labors and enterprise. He could with the greater propri¬ 
ety bear his testimony to their high deserts, because he had to 
confess (and he did so with unfeigned regret, and not without 
mortification,) that he was not one of them. Mr. W. here called 
up other and kindred recollections warmly cherished by every 
American citizen, and by none with higher satisfaction than the 
agriculturists—recollections, he said, calculated to make us 
better men, if not better farmers. He reminded the company 
that he whom we delighted to callthe “ Father of his Country,” 
was a cultivator of the earth. Need he, could he, say more for 
the dignity and utility of our avocation, than that Washington 
was a Favmer? That the call of his country to the command 
of her armies, found him in the field of agricultural labor—that 
his retirement from public life was to the same favorite occu¬ 
pation, and that he continued in it, until the God of Battles call¬ 
ed him to himself? That all the great men who had succeeded 
Washington in the high office of chief magistrate of the Repub¬ 
lic, had like him, sought in the pursuits of agriculture, a digni¬ 
fied retirement and occupation? Nor did Mr. W. suffer the oc¬ 
casion to pass without adverting to the beneficent aid which the 
cause of Agriculture had received within the last few years, 
from our own state of New-York. In presence of t.he distin¬ 
guished gentleman on his right, (Lieut. Gov. Bradish,) he could 
not forget what New-York had contributed, as a state, to Agri¬ 
cultural improvement, through its extensive, thorough and able 
geological survey, nor forget the enlightened statesmen who 
lent their aid to the commencement and prosecution of that 
great work. Mr. W. concluded by giving 
The health of our Lieut. Governor. The Agriculturists of New- 
York do not owe less to him than to any of our eminent states¬ 
men. .[Cheers.] 
Lieut. Gov. Bradish, returned his acknowledgments to the 
company—remarking that although in agricultural matters ge¬ 
nerally, it was a sound maxim to work much, and talk little, 
yet he might be deemed wanting in gratitude, did he not make 
an effort to respond to the flattering notice gentlemen had been 
pleased to take of him. The Lieut. Governor went on to con¬ 
gratulate the Society on its present prosperous condition, and 
future prospects. He had for years witnessed its efforts with 
the greatest anxiety and interest. He was aware of the difficul¬ 
ties to be overcome; and he rejoiced that these were being most 
triumphantly surmounted. For much of what had been done, 
particularly in the improving of our animals and implements, 
it must be admitted we were indebted to our sagacious and in¬ 
genious neighbors of the east. There could be no doubt that 
emigrants from that quarter, incorporated with our original and 
excellent Dutch population, had at once improved our character 
and our agriculture. He would relate an instance that had fall¬ 
en under his own notice. A young man, one of a family whose 
numbers almost equaled the acres of the paternal farm, found 
the homestead too narrow for his broad ambition, so he deter¬ 
mined to emigrate over to New-York. So taking his estate, 
which was all in his head and his pocket handkerchief, he made 
his way to New-York, and very soon into the presence of one of 
our excellent Dutch citizens, by whom he was, as every New Eng¬ 
land man has been, kindly received. [Cheers.] Little had been 
said, before the good Dutch burgher asked t.he youug man why it 
was that so many of his countrymen left home for New-York? 
The young man answered—first we come to teach your children 
—in the second place to marry your daughters—[Laughter]—in 
the third place to manage your estates. [Laughter.] Well sir, 
was the reply—but this is very frank for a young man at least— 
yet you seem to have some cleverness, and we'll see what we 
can do for you. It is scarcely necessary to add that a few years 
found the New Englander the son-in-law of the honest Dutch 
burgher, in a few years he had about him a goodly number, not 
of Anglo-Saxons, but of Yankee Dutch. [Laughter.] We have 
engrafted on the proverbial prudence and industry of the Dutch¬ 
man, the intelligence, enterprise and activity of the Yankee. 
Sir, it. is a good cross. [Cheers.] The Lieut. Governor conclu¬ 
ded by giving the following sentiment: 
Agriculture and. Agriculturists —The former not more essential 
to the prosperity, than the latter to the maintenance ofthe con¬ 
stitutional liberties and free institutions, of our country. 
[Cheering, and Hail Columbia from the band.] 
Mr. Colman of Rochester, moved that the house be called up¬ 
on to answer by States. 
Mr. Nott remarked, that to carry out the suggestion, we must 
begin with Maine. The difficulty was that Maine was not here 
to answer. After some complimentary remarks upon the course 
and influence of the American Institute, he concluded by saying 
that among those connected with that institution, he knew of 
none more distinguished than its honorable President, Gen. 
Tallmadge, and he hoped to hear from him more fully the results 
of that noble institution. [Cheers.] 
Gen. Tallmadge, being loudly called for, returned his ac¬ 
knowledgments—and in answer to the allusion's made to the In¬ 
stitute, developed its general features and objects—taking occa¬ 
sion to speak of the exhibition which had just closed, as a show 
which in the agricultural and its connected departments had ne¬ 
ver been equaled in the state of New-York. He took occasion 
also to inculcate on the company the necessity of turning its 
attention to another interest included in the scope of its incor¬ 
poration—which he said was essential to production, and that 
was the subject of a market and the means of consumption. 
And here Gen. Tallmadge entered upon an elaborate argument 
in favor of a protective tariff, enforcing his peculiar opinions 
with much ability and earnestness. He concluded by offering 
the following: 
The Greatest of inventions —The union of labor and science, 
with protection that is neither accidental, incidental nor hori- 
zontal. [Laughter.] 
Dr. Beekman of Columbia, expressed the gratification it had 
given him to witness the attendance here, and at the show yard, 
of so many gentlemen from other and remote states. He felt, 
personally, under great obligations to them, and on behalf of 
the Society, he took the liberty to return them its thanks, as 
well for their attendance here, as for the additions they had 
brought to our stock, not with a view to compete with us for 
the premiurps, but to contribute to the rarity and excellence of 
the collection, and for the assiduity, intelligence, and discrimi¬ 
nation, they had brought to the different committees of award. 
This tribute was received with warm applause. 
Mr. Ferguson, of Canada, rose to respond on behalf ofthe vi¬ 
sitors from other states, to the very handsome compliment, he 
said, which the gentleman at the other end of the table had just 
paid to them. But before I offer one word in reply, (said he,) I 
beg leave, in the spirit of good fellowship, to ask if there is in 
this room, the humorous chairman of the committee on pork? 
Laughter.] Because, if that gentleman is present, I will not 
add one word more until I hear him. [Renewed laughter. The 
allusion here was to Mr. Lincoln of Mass., who made a report 
on the swine family, on Thursday afternoon, that kept the au¬ 
dience in a roar from beginning to end. The mere allusion to it 
by Mr. F., called up a vivid recollection of all Mr. L.’s very hap¬ 
py points.] He is not present, (continued Mr. F. iu a tone of 
disappointment.) I then, gentlemen, will tell you why. It is to 
save his bacon. [Laughier.] Now, gentlemen, I address you 
as fellow farmers. I have no right to say fellow citizens, but 
fellow farmers. As farmers, 1 beg leave first to express to you 
my deep sense of gratitude for the honor conferred on me, a 
backwoodsman of Canada, in being permitted to be present at 
such a meeting as this, and for the pleasure and instruction 1 
have received here. And let me say, before I forget it, that this 
office of a judge is a very difficult and thankless one, and that 
you may discharge your duty never so faithfully and conscien¬ 
tiously, and you are perfectly sure not to give entire satisfac¬ 
tion. At the same time, they who have undertaken that duty, 
have a right to call on the society for whom they have to act, 
support them in their awards, and to see that no unuue remarks 
are made on their judgments. 
Having said thus much about my fellow judges, permit me to 
rub my eyes, and look about me, and think what a glorious 
meeting we have had—what an exhibition of stock—how great 
New-York is. Why, ten years ago, it would have defied all our 
means to have produced any thing like what we have seen. The 
spirit was not in existence then. But it is now, and we will 
speed it onward. There are, gentlemen, in every great commu¬ 
nity—in the great state of New-l’ork particularly—I don’t say 
gradations of rank, but gradations of circumstances ; and one of 
the happy results of these meetings is to bring the rich into con¬ 
tact with the honest farmer, and to teach the former what true 
nobility and independence is,and where it is to be found. [Cheers] 
If happiness is to be found on earth—if independence is ever to 
be secured—it is within the stilts of the plow. There it is. The 
honest farmer comes into the city, and is bewildered and asto¬ 
nished, by the splendor that meets his eye on every hand. But, 
gentlemen, what sort of splendor is that? A single shock, a 
crash somewhere, and down they go like nine pins: [Laughter.] 
The farmer has always a sure reliance. He has his pork bar¬ 
rel, and his flour barrel, and his good honest wife and children. 
[Cheers.] That is the place to cultivate real, true indepen¬ 
dence—real, true, rational enjoyment. [Cheers.] Nay more— 
there you find honor, morality, religion, virtue, [cheers,] in 
their purest form. Who does not know, that men, mixed up to¬ 
gether in the cares and excitements of busy life, do not appreci¬ 
ate what it is to be an honest farmer, living on his paternal 
acres? But we must not forget that we were made, thank God ! 
to help one another. We are all links of one great human chain. 
And I say perdition to the man that would break one of them. 
[Cheers.] I want to see all men equal in their rights, i live under 
a monarchial form of government. Y r ou under a republic. But 
I say we are all brothers. [Cheers.] More than that, we are 
all scions of the same common stock. [Cheers.] We are of 
one common family. I say it without fear of contradiction 
here, that Americans and Britons have the love of liberty in 
their hearts. [Cheers.] I say it without reference to our liv¬ 
ing under a Queen or a President. I hope there is no high Ca¬ 
nadian Tory present, that will go home and tell of me. [Laugh¬ 
ter.] Don’t mistake me—I am a true, loyal, British subject. 
[Roars of laughter.] What I meant to convey was this—that the 
great outline of the two greatest nations in the world are the 
same. We have our property and lives secured by the habeas 
corpus, and the trial by jury. That is no mean matter. We 
have an executive head. We have a house of Peers—or a Se¬ 
nate—call it what you please. And we have representatives of 
the people. These are the great leading outlines of the consti¬ 
tutions of both nations. Why allow any thing to rankle in our 
hearts, who have every reason as nations, to go together ? Who 
can, if they will, so play into each other’s hands? I go with 
the gentleman opposite, (Mr. Tallmadge,) as to free trade. But 
that is a subject far too wide and too difficult for me to cuter on 
here. I beg pardon for intruding too long. [Cries of “ go on,” 
“ go on.”] I have been trying for a long time to get on my legs, 
and now 1 don’t know how to sit down. [Laughter.] Because 
if I had the talent to give vent to it, I am overflowing with mut¬ 
ter. [Laughter.] 
It has just Hashed across my mind, gentlemen, what a pro¬ 
gress this world is making, and this country in particular. We 
can know nothing of it. I need not ask here—for who has not 
read Washington Irving? Who has not read Knickerbocker? 
[Laughter.] I should like to see how Rip Van Winkle would 
have looked if he had opened his eyes, after a thirty year’s 
slumber, on the Bull’s Head yesterday or to-day. [Laughter.] 
He would have given his eyes a double rub, to see the progress 
matie since he went io sleep down the river. And what would 
he not have done to have been told that two great nations, by 
the simple power of steam, had been brought within a fortnight’s 
sail of each other 1 To see mother and child, hitherto estranged 
by distance and feeling, brought together, as it were, into close 
proximity? For there was a time when an American in Lon¬ 
don was treated as a wild beast, and if a Briton came over here, 
why he was the Deviland all. [Laughter.] This is not so now. 
As we come to see each other, we come to like one another bet¬ 
ter than ever before. I have said already, l am a loyal Britain, 
and I rejoice—I cannot tell you how I rejoice—in the present 
state of affairs between our two countries. [Cheers.] I assure 
you gentlemen, I am not alone in this. Hundreds and thousands 
of British hearts are beating with joy at this moment, at the 
prospect of a termination of all our difficulties. I sincerely 
hope, gentlemen, though I have no objection in the world to 
meeting the Americans in the field—aye, on the tented field 
—that if we must meet, it may be on the tented field of the 
Bull’s Head. [Roars oflaughter.] That is the field for me. No 
drilling, if you please, but the drilling of turneps. [Laugher.] 
Gentlemen, I hardly dare trust myself to speak of that glori¬ 
ous man—the Father of his country—to whom allusion was made 
so handsomely just now. Gentlemen, I revere the memory of 
Washington. If ever there was a Patriot on earth, Washington 
was the man. [Cheers.] I visited Mt. Vernon not long since, 
and I am not ashamed in this company to say, how my heart 
swelled as I stood at that great man’s tomb. I could not help 
repeating, to the astonishment of the man who showed me the 
grounds. 
“ How sleep the brave who sink to rest, 
By all their country’s wishes blest! 
When Spring with dewy fingers cold, 
Returns to deck their hallowed mold, 
She there shall dress a sweeter sod 
Than Fancy’s feet have ever trod. 
By fairy hands their knell is rung, 
By forms unseen their dirge is sung; 
There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray, 
To bless the turf that wraps their clay— 
And Freedom— 
Gentlemen, 1 forget the rest of it. [Cheers loud and long.] 
Mr. F. touched briefly in conclusion, on the subject of agri¬ 
cultural education. He felt totally incompetent to say how the 
object was to be brought about, but he would say this, that 
farmers might be educated too high) and might he kept lar be¬ 
neath their proper position. The point to be aimed at, was that 
men of high education should be acquainted with the practical 
details of husbandry, and that men who understand the pracu- 
ral details should not be ignorant of science. He knew an indi¬ 
vidual, who like many in London, had acqu.red fortunes in bu¬ 
siness, determined to have done with the shop, and buy an es¬ 
tate. He closed his books, and down he went to the country. 
His first inquiry there, as an Englishman’s was apt to be, was, 
where the nearest butcher’s was? [Laughter.] He was told 
that every gentleman killed his own mutton. “D—d dirty 
work,” said he, “but I’ll try.” The man knew no more of" 
country life than the weathercock on the steeple. [Laughter.) 
Mr. F. concluded by giving— 
Domestic Manufactures —Plenty of feet fox children’s stock¬ 
ings, and the good honest housewife that bears them. [Three 
cheers given standing.] 
Mr. Comstock of Oneida, remarked that there was a gentle¬ 
man present from the Old Dominion, who was closely identified 
with her agricultural interest, and whom he should be glad to 
hear. He alluded to Mr. Botts, editor of the Southern Planter. 
Mr. Boris being loudly called for, rose and said that he had 
arrived but a few hours since, and wearied as he was, was un¬ 
fit to make a speech. But the name of the old State that had 
given him birth, had touched a cord in his breast to which eve¬ 
ry fibre of it would always respond. Hu had the pleasure of ex¬ 
pressing for himself and a few of his fellow citizens, theirthanks 
to the company, for the kindness and hospitality they had re¬ 
ceived while they had sojourned here. They hoped one day to 
reciprocate this kindness, and give to all present a Virginia wel¬ 
come, on Virginia soil. [Cheers.J He said he should follow the 
cust oms of liis home, and call out his own man, and in compli¬ 
ance with that custom, he gave— 
This State and City—The one distinguished for its cultivation 
—the other renowned for its Cultivator. [Cheers.] 
The Pbdsipent remarked that the Cultivator appeared to be 
absent, but the city of Albany was represented, and well repre¬ 
sented, here.* 
G. W. Patterson, Esq. said he hoped the gentleman [Mr. 
Barnard,] who represented Albany so well in Congress, would 
not fail to do so at the festive board. If not a farmer now, he 
[Mr. B.] was a farmer’s son, and that amounted to the same 
thing. [Laughter.] When young, Mr. Barnard knew howto hold 
a plow, and now understood very well how to make a speech. 
Mr. Barnard, being called for, said he regarded himself as a 
very unfit person to address an Agricultural Society ; that those 
present were aware he was not much of a farmer ; but. that he 
remembered the time when he enjoyed a degree of satisfaction 
in the pursuits of agriculture, which had seldom, if ever, beers 
exceeded since. He said it had been the day dream of his life, 
that before its close, he should live in tire countiy, possess a 
farm, and follow agricultural pursuits. That hope he still che¬ 
rished, and great would be the disappointment, should he fail 
of realizing those agreeable prospects and promises. 
The economical part of farming, Mr. li. thought, was very 
well understood in this country; and the requisite skill and 
knowledge, with the means used, in a fair way to be supplied. He 
wanted to see—and iu this he but echoed the sentiment of the 
eloquent gentleman before him, [Mr. Ferguson,] and of tlie elo¬ 
quent address of the Governor at the Capitol—he wanted to see 
the dignity of this employment raised in the general estimation 
of the public mind. Various influences had been brought to 
bear on this point ; these influences he desired to see extended. 
He wished to see Farmers, as a body, assume, maintain, and 
deserve a dignity and rank, equal to the just, substantial, and 
superior claims which really and properly belonged to them. 
[Cheers.] Mr. Harnard described in terms of great beauty and 
truth, the condition ofthe independent American farmer, with 
his hundred acres of land under good cultivation, and said he 
knew not why he should not be as true and refined a gentleman 
as any in the land. There he is—the owner of his farm—the 
safest properly in the world—[cheers]—and a property which is 
sure under all circumstances, not only to produce an abundant 
supply ofthe prime necessaries, but of many of the good things 
of life. 
Mr. Barnard feared he was detaining the company too long. 
What he desired to insist on—and that had been Ins main ob¬ 
ject in addressing the meeting— was that it is not only impor¬ 
tant for the American farmer to improve his soil, his breed of 
animals, his instruments of tillage and of husbandry, but that 
he should improve himself—[cheers]—improve the man—his 
tastes—his appointments—his scale of character—his pleasures 
—and in this way elevate the class to which lie belongs in the 
range and scale of society. He offered for a sentiment :— 
The Cottage Home o) the enlightened American Farmer —Filled 
with contentment, virtue, plenty, and peace—as the home of 
every American farmer ought to be. [Cheers, Home, Sweet 
Home.] 
Col. Stone said, in allusion to the remark made by Mr. Fer¬ 
guson, respecting Rip Van Winkle, that lie regretted the gentle¬ 
man from her Majesty’s dominions, should have missed meet¬ 
ing with that ancient citizen ; for (said the Col.) Old Rip was a 
visiter at the Show Yard, and the plowing match ; he saw eve- 
ty thing, aye, and took note of them, and before he left the city, 
he communicated to one of our Vice Presidents—Anthony Van 
Bergen—a neighbor of his, all the observation's he had made at 
the Fair, and I am sure this gentleman will give us all that Rip 
said to him. One thing is unfortunate, Old Rip speaks Dutch : 
but when he makes a communication, even second hand, I have 
no doubt all will be gratiiied to hear him. 
Judge Van Bergen responded to the call made upon him, and 
in broad Dutch, which it would require the Lieut. Governor’s 
Yankee Dutch to report, gave the substance of Old Rip’s obser¬ 
vations—concluding with the following sentiment in [he verna¬ 
cular : 
Farmers— Nature’s nobility—the highest order among free¬ 
men. [Cheers, and Yankee Doodle.] 
Mr. Nott remarked that, as the gentleman from Canada had 
said he did not understand Dutch, he thought this eloquent 
though second hand speech of Rip Yap Winkle should be trans¬ 
lated for the use ofthe company ; and of all the gentlemen pre- 
* it may not be improper to state here, that the representative 
of the Cultivator at the Fair—Mr. Tucker—was at the table, but 
was unfortunately called from the room while Mr. Botts’ was 
speaking, and did not return until Mr. Barnard had commenced 
his remarks. Had it been otherwise, he would have felt it a 
pleasure to have responded not only to the high compliment of 
his valued friend and able co-arijutor in the great cause of Agri¬ 
culture, from Virginia, but expressed his gratitude for the many 
similar expressions of satisfaction, the course ofthe Cultivator 
had called forth from gentlemen present at the Fair. He must 
also be permitted to say here, that his arduous duties as one of 
the managers of the Fair, prevented bis paying that attention to 
gentlemen and strangers present, which otherwise he would 
have been most happy to have rendered them; and the same 
reason will also prevent notices of many things which were 
doubtless deserving of being more fully recorded. 
