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ANNUAL MEETING, JANUARY 21, 22, 1852.

At 12 o'clock, the President of the Society, Mr. Delafield, assumed the chair at the Assembly Chamber.

The Secretary, Mr. Johnson, read the annual report of the Society,* which was, on motion of Hon. John A. King, accepted.

Mr. Tucker, the Treasurer, read his report:

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Hon. A. Z. McCarty, of Oswego, moved a committee of three from each Judicial District, to nominate officers, and recommend a place for holding the next Fair; the committee to be chosen by members of the Society present from the respective districts.

Mr. Nott, from Albany, opposed the motion, and was in favor of having the election made in open meeting of the Society, hy ballot. Judge Cheever, Gen. Viele, Mr. McCarty, Mr. Taylor and J. A. King advocated the motion. Mr. Bloss moved a substitute, that the committee consist of 128 members, one from each Assembly District; this was lost. Mr. Gould moved a committee of one from each Senate District; this was lost, and the original resolution adopted.

The members from the several Judicial Districts reported the following committee, under Mr. McCarty's resolution, and the committee was appointed by the Society.

First District-J. E. Develin, E. D. Morgan, Russell Smith. Second District-John A. King, Lewis G. Morris, William Kelly. Third District-Geo. Vail, E. P. Prentice, Anthony Van Bergen. Fourth District-J. T. Blanchard, Eli W. Rogers, Leroy Mowry. Fifth District--John Butterfield, A. Z. McCarty, Jo'n A. Sherman. Sixth District-Henry S. Randall, Wm. Rathbone, Josiah B. Williams.

Seventh District-J. W. Bissell, Charles Lee, Robert Rome. Eighth District-Lewis F. Allen, Levi Fisk, John A. McElwaine.

The committee retired; and the Society took a recess until 4 o'clock, P. M.

After recess; the President in the chair,

Hon. John A. King, from the committee of nominations, reported: That the City of Utica be recommended as the place for holding the next Fair, provided the requirements of the Executive Committee be complied with.

The names of the following gentlemen were reported for officers the ensuing year:

President-HENRY WAGER, of Oneida.

Vice-Presidents-JAMES MONROE, New-York; LEWIS G. MORRIS, Westchester; ANTHONY VAN BERGEN, Greene; WINSLOW C. WATSON, Essex; THEODORE S. FAXTON, Oneida; OLCOTT C. CHAMBERLAIN, Otsego; CHARLES LEE, Yates; JOHN A. MCELWAINE, Wyoming.

Corresponding Secretary-B. P. JOHNSON, Albany.

Recording Secretary-ERASTUS CORNING, jr., Albany.
Treasurer-LUTHER TUCKER, Albany.

Executive Committee-WILLIAM KELLY, Rhinebeck; J. T. BLANCHARD, Saratoga; J. A. COREY, Saratoga; JOHN BUTTERFIELD, Utica; J. B. BURNET, Syracuse.

The report of the committee was accepted, and the gentlemen named were elected by ballot, (P. CRISPEL, jr., of Ulster, and H. T. E. FOSTER, of Seneca, tellers.)

Mr. Bloss presented resolutions from the Monroe County Agricultural Society, on the subject of a division of the Society, or for such a change as will meet the wants and wishes of the people of Western New-York, and in relation to the practice of requiring localities to pay the expense of the Fairs, and for use of tent-and suggestions for alteration of Premium lists, which, after discussion were laid on the table.

Resolutions from Clinton County Agricultural Society in favor of an Agriculturai Coliege and Experimental Farm,, were also laid upon the table, as the Executive Committee had adopted a resolution for a memorial to the Legislature, for the establishment of an Agricultural School and Farm, on behalf of the Society.

The Society took a recess until 7 P. M.

WEDNESDAY EVENING.

The Society met, and the President, Mr. DELAFIELD, delivered the following

ADDRESS

On presenting the Medals of the Society to its members who received awards at the Great Exhibition in London.

GENTLEMEN,-When the invitation from Britain's Queen reached our shores to send the works of our ingenuity and industry for exhibition in London, and in competition with like works from other parts of the world, the first impression on my mind was adverse to the proposition. This impression originated probably from recollections of the state of art and science and the condition of society in that country, during a residence of several years. Aware, also, of the difficulties to be encountered from the impracticability of any well arranged system or unity of action among our several States, a faint hope only was indulged that we could return from the World's Fair either gratified or satisfied. Viewing the mighty effort, at this day-its termination and recorded awards-the wonderful display of art, of skill, and of labor-the question may be entertained whether a preponderance of good or evil is to flow from the influences of the well intended undertaking. Honor and praise are justly due to Britain's Royal Prince for the conception and accomplishment of the vast design; a design of benevolence and good will to the human race. It is yet too early for any decided benefits or advantages to be manifest; neither has time elapsed sufficient to develop the influences fondly entertained by many.

Two distinct characteristics seem to have stamped their features on the Industrial Exhibition. The one is UTILITY, displayed in objects designed to promote the sustenance, the comforts, and the happiness of man; the other is Ornament and Luxury, chiefly combined to stimulate and gratify the senses.

The first character, Utility, was a distinctive feature in the productions contributed by the United States; while Luxurious Ornament highly distinguished the productions from Europe and from Asia.

If these distinctions are true, they are portentous as to the future; and we may well rejoice that our countrymen--that you, gentlemen, who are to receive an honorable distinction for talent devoted to Utility, belong to and are identified with the class of benefactors of the human race.

In all nations there are persons who, unhappily for themselves, disregard knowledge; who, having but little information, are content to live and labor under every disadvantage. They never rise above their fellows; for, as neither pleasure nor profit can be derived from them, they are compelled to labor generally with strong application of physical force, but none of mind; they have no idea of the value of knowledge, and the paths it opens to honor and wealth. This remark occurs to me as I view this mass of Essex county ore:* it is the rich and valuable ore, taken from the mountain masses belonging to the "Adirondac Iron and Steel Company." I have somewhere met with an apt illustration of the deficiency of knowledge, and the benefits of its due application, as evidenced in the proprietors of the Adirondac Company. Thus, the man who disregards knowledge, "would deny stoutly the existence of a knife blade in this mass of iron ore; yet there it certainly is there it lies, where no labor can draw it forth in the present condition of this ore. Turn this mass, shape it as you will, it is neither knife, nor steel, nor is it iron; it is but ore. Fashion this ore as you may, it will not cut as well as the shell of an oyster; it needs knowledge to separate the iron from other matter; labor

This ore has 70 per cent. of iron.

"The Results of Machinery."

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