Annual Report of the American Institute of the City of New York

REPORT

Of the American Institute, for the

year 1846.

The Trustees are gratified to be able to state, that the general operations of the Institute for the year, both in agriculture and the arts, have been crowned with signal success.

In its regular progress the most beneficent effects have been felt and acknowledged by numerous correspondents, associated and individual; and by the press generally in every part of the country. The plan of carrying out the objects of the Legislature, as described in the last report, has been pursued, to which reference is made. This will supersede the necessity of making remarks at this time.

As the receipts are, in a degree, a true index of successful operation, the first reference will be to the accounts of the year. In the accounts of disbursements in promoting industry and improvement in the departments of agriculture and the arts, it should be borne in mind that our whole revenue, with the exception of the State bounty of $950, and the Van Schaick donation of $1,000, has been derived from membership, added to the trifle of twenty-five cents for each grown person, and twelve and a half cents for children admitted to the fair. This presents an example of economy, industry, liberality and devotion to the public good, that challenges a comparison with any institution in this or any other country. If mercenary motives had prevailed, there would have been no free library! no free lectures! no farmers' club, with even members paying nothing! no free repository where the ingenious inventor could show the world the fruit of his genius; all demanding expenditures every day of the year. Contributions would have been levied on all, and expended on fat offices.

In order that the benefits of the Annual Fair might be made available to the great public, and a knowledge of improvements diffused, delegates were invited from societies, and also citizens far and [Assembly, No. 151.]

wide: men in office, distinguished individuals, literary, scientific, &c., so that with the non paying, corresponding, and regular members, exhibitors and their families, embracing four-fifths as is estimated of all who entered the fair, were on the free list.

The following account embraces the financial affairs of the Institute for the year.

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.

The receipts and expenditures of the American Institute of the city of New-York, from February, 1846, to February, 1847, have been as follows: