and is the rainbow of hope to the oppressed of all nations. It is for you to carry on the work, not alone of political, but intellectual and moral improvement. A vast field opens before you; and I rejoice that here, where intellect is so bright and humanity has so many friends, these great ends are in progress to their accomplishment.

We have met, fellow citizens, at this place, to commemorate the Fair of 1843. Our object was to exhibit to your view, and I trust for your benefit, the finest animals we could collect-the best farm implements that inducements in the way of rewards could bring together; and, not confining our attention to animals and implements, we have offered premiums for almost every variety of article that either your wants, your tastes, or your desires for luxury, would call for.

If from this display you return to your respective homes benefitted by our exertions, and anxious hereafter to contribute your part to the general improvement, our labor will have been well bestowed, for this great State will be advanced in its onward march by the streams of wealth you will pour into her bosom.

a (NOTE, by the Recording Secretary.)-The same spirit which requires the State and County Societies to report their proceedings to the Public Authorities-the desire of ascertaining the Progress of Improvement through the instrumentality of associated effort encouraged by Legislative bounty-will probably require little apology for introducing the opinions of Statesmen distingushed in the Public Councils, with reference to the Agricultural Exhibitions which they have witnessed. It is scarcely probable that any Farmer in the State of New-York will except to the introduction of the remarks of Ex-President Van Buren, ExGovernor Seward, Lieutenant-Governor Dickenson, Francis Granger and Daniel Websterwhose observations may be considered as the Report of an "Honorary Committee of Inspection" concerning the Progress of Agricultural Improvement. Under this impression, therefore, a brief outline of the remarks of those well-known Statesmen is herewith annexed.

REMARKS OF EX-PRESIDENT VAN BUREN.

In the course of his remarks at the Agricultural Fair, JAS. S. WADSWORTH, the then President of the State Society, observed, as a fact worthy of notice, "that every statesman who had occupied the Presidency of the United States, from the days of Washington down to the present time, had sought retirement in the peaceful pursuits of AGRICULTURE;" adding that "he was happy to find that their illustrious guest (Mr. Van Buren) had followed the example; and in behalf of the State Society, he was happy to welcome the Ex-President to this Festival, and to the great community of the Cultivators of the Earth." After Mr. Wadsworth concluded, the Ex-President briefly addressed the assemblage :

Gentlemen, said he, I should be doing injustice as well to you as to my own feelings, did I omit to express my sincere gratitude for the respect it has pleased you to evince towards me-first to the members of this Society for doing me the honor to ask my presence on this occasion; and next, to you, for the cordial, sincere, and friendly manner in which you have been pleased to distinguish my appearance. It is for this purpose, and this only, that I rise to make you this acknowledgementto make you my sincere and unfeigned thanks for the honor you have conferred. It has been an object, one principal object of my life, a constant and abiding object, to pursue the useful rather than the showy part; to do all in my power to promote public objects when I can do it beneficially.

On the present occasion, for me to submit practical observations on farming, to the immense body of farmers by whom 1 am surrounded, would be an inexcusable departure from this rule, as useless too as to

carry coals to Newcastle." I am wholly incompetent to give you instruction upon this subject. But it will not be inconsistent or improper for me to express the high gratification which I have derived from the exhibitions of this day. I was indeed expecting much, knowing the character of this State, its character for temperance, for morality, for intelligence and for industry; and I had expected an exhibition which. would do honor to any portion of the country. I knew too, that I was coming to a section of the country distinguished above every other in the State, above every other I may say in the Union. My expectations were therefore high, but it affords me.pleasure to say that these expectations have been more than realized; that you have had an exhibition

of which every American citizen may be proud, and especially of which every western farmer may well be proud.

Of the particulars of this exhibition, gentlemen, it is not my province, nor am I competent, to speak. I will therefore advert but to one branch of it, and that is the exhibition of the fruits of the handiwork of the fair daughters of this section of the country. It is right that we should thus begin by offering our gratitude to those who possess our hearts. I do then say, and I say it with a heart full of affection, that no man can witness the exhibition of these fruits of their labor, their industry and their skill, without feelings of gratitude, of pride, and the highest satisfaction. I said, gentlemen, that I am not competent to speak upon agricultural matters at present-I will therefore abstain from them. But it is not from indifference or from a want of interest in this great subject. I do not hesitate to declare that, of my whole life, those two years have been the happiest which I have spent in agricultural pursuits. I say this sincerely; and, though I have not much practice as a farmer, I have this: Two years ago, I had a farm of 136 acres, which was let on shares. The first year I had to purchase my hay and oats; the second year I had nearly enough oats for my own use, and a little hay over; the present year I have abundance of all things for my own use, and nearly eighty tons of hay to spare. At some future time, I hope to be able to give you more information than I can do now.— I will say, however, in addition to this, that I have reclaimed 12 acres of bog, which two years ago was incapable of bearing grass. I thank you again for the honor you have done me; and I take leave of you, declaring solemnly and sincerely, that there is no honor or mark of respect, on which I place a higher value than the applause of farmers.

REMARKS OF MR. GRANGER.

Some extraordinary facts illustrative of the Agricultural History of Western New-York, were mentioned by Mr. Granger, member of Congress from the Ontario District, during the proceedings at the State Fair in Rochester. Reference having been made to his presence on the occasion, Mr. Granger briefly addressed the members of the Society as follows:

MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN-The distinguished honor conferred upon me would seem to demand that I should say something in behalf [Assembly, No. 100.]

10

of Western New-York, and yet it would appear scarcely necessary; for when I look around on this vast assemblage, I see you are all here— every man to speak for himself! Well may he who speaks for Western New-York feel proud of the duty! I can but feebly express to you the emotions which crowded on my mind, when to day I took my seat in the cars by the side of the man who raised the first bushel of wheat west of Cayuga lake! (Cries of "who is he?-who is he?" Mr. Granger answered, Abner Barlow; and then three hearty cheers were given for Mr. Barlow by the vast multitude.) Yes-the man, in full health and vigor, who sowed the first seed and raised the first crop of wheat in the west! And yet he is even now in the pride and strength of manhood. The world can present no such instance in its history. What is the history of Western New-York? It is but as yesterday when it was one vast unbroken forest. When the Revolution was over, Yankee industry and Yankee perseverance would no longer consent to be bound down to the iron coast of New-England or even by the high hills of Ver

mont.

They sought a milder country, which would give a better return to the industry of man-where they could push sooner the advancements of life, and secure earlier the elegancies and enjoyments of civilization-a broader field for their energies. What has Western New-York done? Even in my short day, and short it is, though I am getting a little in the grey of the evening-even in my short day, this city of Rochester was not even a village! When I moved into Western New-York, this splendid town, which presents now all the arts of polished life, where the stage-proprietor would not even deign to change horseswhere he only watered and went on-is now a city which packs more flour than any other in the world! I repeat it, than any other in the world. I have heard this contradicted, but facts and figures will make manifest its truth, and to them I appeal.

It has been asked, where are the Pioneers of Western New-York? The grave has closed over most of them, but there are many still living among us to give to their children encouragement and advice-to tell them to "be sure they are right, then go ahead." I have taken by the hand many a man to day, who thought an eminent land proprietor mad when he told them that the time would come, in their and his day, when the stage would go twice a week from Canandaigua to Albany; and yet the little train in which I came over to-day, had only eleven hundred ! Such is Western New-York! Its progress and history have solved the doubt which many entertained, whether it was not a problem wheth

er there was sufficient energy in a republican government to push forward and hold up and force forward towns and settlements. What Rochester has done, others in our land also have: Cincinnati in Ohio is a town larger than that famed Odessa, which the whole power of Russia for fifty years has been building up. But I must close. When I arose, I only intended to speak ten words, but I thought I must say something in answer to the reference to Western New-York.

I will add, if there be a man on earth who, when he sinks to the grave, can do so with thoughts of happiness, it must be the Pioneer of Western New-York-he who has lived to see, through those fruitful fields where once was the range of the savage, yonder railroad train pursue its arrowy flight-he who, it may be said emphatically though figuratively, "descended from Pisgah to enjoy the Promised Land."

REMARKS OF EX-GOVERNOR SEWARD,
At the State Agricultural Fair in Rochester.

FELLOW CITIZENS-At the time of the last anniversary of the Agricultural Society of the State of New-York, I was residing among the farmers of Eastern New-York, and found them a most unreasonable community. They had assigned the post of speaker to the most distinguished orator, and I may be allowed to say, even before the voice of posterity has awarded its meed of praise-the most illustrious statesman of any country or of any age. But he failed them, and that unreasonable community demanded of me that with only four days' notice I should fill the place of Daniel Webster. But, fellow-citizens, I am sorry to be obliged to say, that, unreasonable as I found the citi zens of Eastern New-York to be, I must bring a more bold and juster charge against those of Western New-York, who, with only one minute's notice, have changed their call, loud and enthusiastic as it has been, for Daniel Webster*-to one which yet rings in my ear, as a warning that I have been called out, only to be sacrificed.

Fellow citizens: if there be anything which can delight the heart of a lover of man or a servant of God, it is to witness such scenes as are now passing before us. There is an excitement in the voice of fame

After the announcement of the premiums, the audience called for remarks from Mr. Webster, who was expected to address the assemblage, but he was not present at that time; and then Gov. Seward, being called on by his fellow citizens, replied briefly, as above mentioned, in reference to the Agricultural movements of the time.