Medical library, books binding, stationary, &c. 789,42 nity, the Physic-school here should meet all the protec- Sums placed at interest 5532,83 tion and encouragement the friends of their country, and 559,75 well wishers of mankind, can poss bly give it. Though it is yet in its infancy, from a judicious treatment of its 27,235,99 guardians, it is already become a forward child, and has 13,50,00 promising appearance of soc arriving to a vigorous and 2773,42 healthy maturity. The professors in it at present are few, but their departments include the most essential parts of education: another,* whose distinguished abili, ties will do honour to his country and the institution, is expected to join them in spring; and I think he has lit $43509,19 Steward & Matron of Hospital, Isaac and Ann Bonsal. SURGICAL SCHOOL. will ever fail of additional strength, and providential blessing. And I am certain nothing would give me so much pleasure, as to have it in my power to contribute the least mite towards its perfect establishment. As a Surgical School, the Hospital is probably the best in the United States. The surgical ward, (a room The Professor of Anatomy and Physiology,† is well constantly open for the reception of recent accidents) qualified for the task; his dissections are accurate and together with the operating rooms, have been the thea-elegant, and his lectures learned, judicious, and clear. tre of many valuable improvements in surgery. A constant series of accidents and cases for operation, are, with few intervals, introduced. In 1766 a course of clinical lectures was commenced, by permission of the Managers, at the suggestion of Dr. Bond, who delivered the "first formal clinical lecture in the United States," which is inserted on the minutes of the Managers. With this lecture (which we copy from the 4th volume of the North American Medical and Surgical Journal, p. 265) we close the account of the Hospital. Doctor THOMAS BOND's Introductory Lecture to a Course of Clinical Observations in the Pennsylvania Hospital, delivered there the 3d of December, 1766." When I consider the unskilful hands the practice of Physic and Surgery has of necessity been committed to, in many parts of America, it gives me pleasure to behold so many worthy young men, training up in those professions, which, from the nature of their objects, are the most interesting to the community; and yet a greater pleasure in foreseeing, that the unparalleled public spirit of the good people of this province, will shortly make Philadelphia the Athens of America, and render the sons of Pennsylvania reputable amongst the most celebrated Europeans, in all the liberal arts and sciences. This I am at present certain of, that, the institutions of literature and charity already founded, and the School of Physic iately opened in this city, afford sufficient foundation for the students of Physic to acquire all the knowledge necessary for the practising every branch of their profession, reputably and judiciously. has had the best opportunities of improvements, joined The field this gentleman undertakes is very extensive, and has many difficulties which may mislead the footsteps of an uncautioned traveller; therefore, lectures, in which the different parts of the Theory and Practiec of Physic are judiciously classed, and systematically explained, will prevent many perplexities the student would otherwise be embarrassed with; will unfold the doors of knowledge, and be of great use in directing and abridging his future studies; yet there is something further wanting; he must join examples with study, before he can be sufficiently qualified to prescribe for the sick: for, language and books alone can never give him adequate ideas of diseases, and the best method of treating them. For which reasons, infirmaries are justly reputed the grand theatres of medical knowledge. There, the clinical professor comes in to the aid of speculation, and demonstrates the truth of theory, by facts: he meets his pupils at stated times in the hospital, and when a case presents, adapted to his purpose, he asks all those questions which lead to a certain know. ledge of the disease, and parts affected; this he does in the most exact and particular manner, to convince the students how many, and what minute circumstances are often necessary to form a judgment of the curative indications, on which the safety and life of the patient depend; from all which circumstances and the present The great expense in going from America to England, symptoms, he pronounces what the disease is, whether and thence from country to country, and college to col- it is curable or incurable, in what manner it ought to lege, in quest of medical qualifications, is often a bar to be treated, and gives his reasons from authority or exthe cultivation of the brightest geniuses amongst us, perience, for all he says on the occasion; and if the diswho might otherwise be morning stars in their profes- ease baffles the power of art and the patient falls a sacrisions, and most useful members of society. Besides, fice to it, he then brings his knowledge to the test, and every climate produces diseases peculiar to itself, which fixes honour or discredit on his reputation by exposing require experience to understand and cure; and even all the morbid parts to view, and demonstrates by what the diseases of the several seasons in the same country, means it produces death; and if perchance he finds are found to differ so much some years, from what they something unexpected, which betrays an error in judg. were in others, that Sydenham, the most sagacious phy-ment, he, like a great and good man, immediately acsician that ever lived, acknowledges that he was often difficulted, and much mistaken in the treatment of epidemics for some time after their appearance. No country, then, can be so proper for the instruction of youth in the knowledge of Physic, as that in which it is to be practised, where the precepts of never failing experience are handed down from father to son, from tutor to pupil. That this is not a speculative opinion, but real matter of fact, may be proven from the savages of America, who without the assistance of literature, have been found possessed of skill in the cure of diseases incident to their climate, superior to the regular bred and most learned physicians, and that from their discoveries, the present practice of Physic has been enriched with some of the most valuable medicines now in use. Therefore, from principles of patriotism and huma knowledges the mistake, and for the benefit of survi vors points out other methods by which it might have been happily treated. The latter part of this field of tuition is the surest method of obtaining just ideas of dis. eases. The great Boerhaave was so attentive to it, that he was not only present at the opening of human bodies, but frequently attended the slaughter houses in Leyden, to examine the carcases of beasts; and being asked by a learned friend, by what means he acquired such uncommon certainty in the diagnostics and prognostics, of diseases, answered, by examining dead bodies, studying Sydenham's observations, and Bonetus' 'Sepulchretum Anatomicum,' both which he had read ten times, and each time with greater pleasure and improvement. But to give you more familiar instances of the utility • Dr. Kuhn. † Dr. Shippen. + Dr. Morgan, of this practice, let me remind several of you, who were present last fall at the opening of two bodies, one of which died of asthmatic complaints, the other of a frenzy succeeded by a palsy, and ask you whether any thing short of ocular demonstration, could have given you just ideas of the causes of the patients' death; in one we saw a dropsy in the left side of the thorax, and a curious polypus, with its growing fimbria of fourteen inches in length, (now in the hospital,) extending from the ventricle of the heart, far beyond the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery; in the other we found the brain partly suppurated, and the ventricle on the opposite side to that affected with paralysis, distended by a large quantity of limpid serum; and you must remember, that the state of all the morbid parts was predicted, before they were exposed to view; which may have a further advantage, by arousing in you an industrious pursuit after the most hidden causes of all the affections of the human body; and convince you what injury they do the living, who oppose a decent, painless, and well timed examination of the dead. Thus all the professors in the best European colleges, go hand in hand, and co-operate with each other by regular chains of reasoning, and occasional demonstrations, to the satisfaction and improvement of the students. But more is required of us, in this late settled world, where new diseases often occur, and others common to many parts of Europe visit us too frequently, which it behoves the guardians of health to be very watchful of, that they may know them well, and by a hearty union, and brotherly communication of observations, investigate their causes and check their progress. The task is arduous, but it is a debt we owe to our friends and our country. The atmosphere which surrounds us is fine, and the air we breathe, free, pure, and naturally healthy, and I am fully persuaded we shall find, on strict inquiry, when it becomes otherwise. It is mostly from contagion imported, or neglected sources of putrefaction amongst ourselves, and, therefore, whenever we are able to demonstrate the causes, they may be removed, and the effects prevented. Our fathers, after securing to us the full enjoyment of the inestimable blessings of religious and civil liberty, have settled us in a country that affords all the real comforts of life, and gives us the prospect of becoming one day a great and happy people; and I know only one objection to a prudent man's giving North America the preference to any other part of the British dominions, for the place of his residence, which is, that the climate is sometimes productive of severe epidemic diseases in summer and fall. The country is otherwise free from those tedious and dangerous fevers which frequently infest most parts of Europe. The last wet summer, and the short space of hot dry weather in autumn, caused so many intermittents, from the southern suburbs of the city, all the way to Georgia, that I may venture to assert two-thirds of the inhabitants were not able to do the least business for many weeks, and some families, and even townships were so distressed, that they had not well persons sufficient to attend the sick, during which time this city was unusually healthy. How respectable, then, would be the characters of those men, who should wipe this stain out of the American escutcheon, and rescue their country from such frequent calamities. selves, by their essays on epidemics, in which they not only accurately describe the diseases of their respective countries, but show the depraved constitution of the air, which produces each of them? Our own experience also affords much encouragement: when I first came into this city, the Dock was the common sewer of filth, and was such a nuisance to the inhabitants about it, that they were obliged to use more pounds of barks, than they have ounces since it has been raised and levelled. Another striking instance of the advantage of cleanliness for the preservation of health, affords me an opportunity of paying a tribute, justly due, to the wisdom of the legis lature of this province, in framing the salutary laws for paving and regulating the streets of this city, and to the indefatigable industry and skill of the commissioners in executing them, whereby they have contributed so much to the healthiness of the inhabitants, that I am confident the whole expense will be repaired in ten years, by the lessening of the physic bills alone. A farm within a few miles of the city was remarkably healthy for fifty years, whilst the tide overflowed the low lands, near the dwelling house; but after they were banked in by ditches so ill contrived that they did not often discharge the water that fell into them for a considerable time, and until it became putrid, and thereby rendered the place as remarkably sickly as it had been before healthy. I was told by a gentleman of ve racity, that he saw the corpses of nine tenants, that had been carried from it in a few years. The yellow fever, which I take to be exactly the same distemper as the plague of Athens, described by Thucydides, has been five different times in this city since my residence in it; the causes of three of them I was luckily able to trace, and am certain they were the same which produced a gaol fever in other places, and am of opinion the difference betwixt the appearance of these fevers, arises from the climate, and the different state the bodies are in when they imbibe the contagion; if so, the same methods which are taken to prevent a gaol fever, will equally prevent a yellow fever. It was in the year forty-one I first saw that horrid disease, which was then imported by a number of convicts from the Dublin gaol. The second time it prevailed, it was indigenous, from evident causes, and was principally confined to one square of the city. The third time, it was generat ed on board of crowded ships in the port, which brought in their passengers, in health, but they soon after be came very sickly. I here saw the appearance of conta gion, like a dim spark, which gradually increased to a blaze, and soon after burst into a terrible flame, carrying devastation with it, and after continuing two months, was extinguished by the profuse sweats of tertian fevers, but this is not the ordinary course of the contagion, it is usually checked by the cool evenings in September, and dies on the appearance of an October frost. I lately visited an Irish passenger vessel, which brought the people perfectly healthy until they came to our ri ver, I found five of them ill, and others unwell, and saw that the fomes of infection was spreading among them; I therefore ordered the ship to lay quarantine, to be well purified with the steams of sulphur, and with vinegar; directed the bedding and clothing of the people to be well washed and dried before any person should be permitted to land out of her; after which I advised Sufficient encouragement to make the attempt, is separating the sick from the healthy. This was done by found both in history, the books of physic, and our own putting twelve in different rooms in one house, and fousexperience. Several instances are recorded of places teen in another, out of the city; the conveniences of that were so sickly, as to be uninhabited, until princes the two houses were much the same; in one of them lithave ordered their physicians to search into the causes tle care was taken of the sick, who were laid upon the of their unhealthiness; and having discovered and re- same foul beds, they (contrary to orders) brought to moved them, made thereby valuable additions to their shore with them: the consequence was, that all the fakingdoms. Was not our ancient and great master, Hip-mily catched the distemper, and the landlord died. In pocrates, so knowing in the cause of pestilential conta- the other, my orders were strictly observed; the sick gion, as to foresee a plague, and send his pupils into the had eleau clothes and clean bedding, were well attendcities to take care of the sick? And have not HE, and Sr-ed, and soon recovered, without doing the least injury the English Hippocrates, done infinite service to to any person that visited them: which confirms obser the healing art, and gained immortal honours to them-vations I had made before, that the contagion of malig DENEAN, nant fevers lies in the air, confined and corrupted, by neglect of rags, and other filth about the helpless sick, and not from their bodies. As these heads shall be the subjects of a future lecture, I shall at present only mention to you further, a few of those methods which have preserved individuals from prevailing diseases. The inhabitants of Hispaniola have found the wearing flannel shirts to be a preservative against intermittent fevers in that sickly island; and as this disease is known to arise principally from inhaling a great quantity of the humidity of the air, I make no doubt it would also be of use in preventing them in our low, moist, level coun tries. We know that the bark of sassafras contains many excellent medicinal virtues; my worthy friend, Mr. Peter Franklin, told me, that he being in the fall of the year, in the river Nanticoke, In Maryland, and on seeing the people on shore much afflicted with Intermittent fevers, advised the mariners of the ship to drink freely, by way of prevention, of that aromatic and antiseptic medicine, but could not prevail on more than half the company to do it, and that he and all the others who took it, enjoyed perfect health, whilst not a single person of the rest e-s caped a severe attack of the epidemic disease: I have known other similar instances, which it is needless to mention, since this remarkobly pertinent. suit, but is more within the limits of human precaution than has generally been imagined, and to excite your particular attention to the improvement of this humane and interesting part of your profession, in which, and all other useful undertakings, I most sincerely wish you success. I am now to inform, you, gentlemen, that the managers and physicians of the Pennsylvania Hospital, on seeing the great number of you attending the school of Physic in this city, are of opinion, this excellent institution likewise affords a favourable opportunity of further improvement to you in the practical part of your profession; and being desirous it should answer all the good purposes intended by the generous contributors to it, have allotted to me the task of giving a course of clini cal and meteorological observations in it, which I cheerfully undertake, (though the season of my life points out relaxation and retirement, rather than new incum. brances) in hopes that remarks on the many curious cases that must daily occur, amongst an hundred and thirty sick persons, collected together at one time, may be very instructive to you. I therefore purpose to meet you at stated times here, and give you the best information in my power of the nature and treatment of chronical diseases, and of the proper management of ulcers, wounds, and fractures. I shall show you all the operations of surgery, and endeavour, from the experience of thirty years, to introduce to you a familiar acquaintance with the acute diseases of your own country; in order to which, I shall put up a complete meteorological apparatus, and endeavour to inform you of all the known properties of the atmosphere which surrounds us, and the effects its frequent variations produce on animal bodies; and confirm the doctrine by an exact register of the weather, and of the prevailing diseases, both here and in the neighbouring provinces; to which I shall add all the interesting observations which may occur in private practice, and sincerely wish it may be in my power to do them to your satisfaction. I have likewise the pleasnre to inform you, that Dr, Smith has promised to go through a course of experi mental philosophy in the college, for your instruction in Pneumatics, Hydraulics, and Mechanics, which will be of the greatest advantage to a ready comprehension of the meteorological lectures; and other parts of your Medical studies, and lay you under the highest obligations to that learned professor. ANNALS OF PAUPERISM. But I have reason to expect that a more agreeable and equally certain preventative against our autumnal fevers, will be found in sulphurous chalybeate waters, which may be readily procured in most parts of America, especially where those diseases are most prevalent: a spring of this kind at Gloucester, within a few miles of this place, has been much used of late; has been so very serviceable to invalids, it has the appearance of being a valuable conveniency to the city. Persons under various diseases took lodgings in the village last season, for the advantage of drinking the waters at the fountain head, and though the fall was more sickly than has been known in the memory of man, not any one of the inhabitants near the Spaw, who drank it freely, had a touch of the prevailing disease; whilst the major part of those that did not, had more the appearance of ghosts than living creatures. There were two houses the habitations of father and son, within twenty feet of each other; the family of the father had suffered greatly from intermittent fevers the preceding fall, and some of these continued invalids till the middle of summer, when they were prevailed on to take the waters, after which they daily recovered health, bloom, and vigour, and passed Table of the Mortality in the Medical Department of the the sickly season without a complaint, whilst scarcely a person in that of the son, who did not take them, escaped a severe illness. It is well known from experience, that mineral waters are not only the most palatable, but the most salutary parts of the materia medica; and that the effect of those which are pure and properly impregnated with chalybeate principles, strengthen digestion, brace and counteract a summer's sun, dilute a thick putrid bile, (the instrument of mischief in all hot climates,) and immediately wash away putrefaction through the emunctories of the bowels, skin, or kidneys, and there- June 62 fore appear to be natural preventatives against the effect July. 76 of a hot, moist, and putrid atmosphere. Whether these waters will answer my sanguine expectations or not, must be left to the decision of time, if they should be found wanting, that ought not discourage our further pursuit; for since Providence has furnished every country with defences for the human body, against the inclemencies of heat and cold, why should we question whe- 1828 ther Infinite Wisdom and Goodness has made equal provision against all other natural injuries of our constitution? Experience and reason encourage us to believe Feb. 61 it has, and that the means might be discovered by dili- Mar. 47 gent investigation, were our researches equal to the task. Apr 55 The above instances are therefore related to convince May | 46 you, that the prevention of some of the epidemic diseases of America is not only a laudable and rational pur- Tot. [738 | 99 Admission Dates of Women's Men&Wo men's Sur gical, and Philadelphia Alms-House. Men's Ven'l Men's and Eye Med. Wards M.Wards Wards,Cells & Obl Wards No. No 1827 Deaths Dths Death adm adm adm VenWards CORES 3445303 12. Steam Engine Furnace and Boiler. To the inventor of the best constructed furnace and boiler, superior to any now in use, for consuming anthracite in generating steam; to be applied to steam engines. A silver medal. Certificates will be required, of the furnace having been some time in use, of the quantity of coal consum ed, and of the effect produced. 13. Fire Bricks. bricks. To the maker of the best fire A silver medal. This premium will not be awarded until the bricks have been tested, and found to be equal to the Stour bridge. 14. Currying Knives. To the maker of the best cur rying knives, equal to the best now in use; two dozen to be exhibited. A silver medal. Certificates will be required from manufacturers of leather, that the knives have been used, and found equal to the best now in use. 15 Copper Bottoms. To the maker of the best cop per ttoms, not fewer than three to be exhibited; the diameter not to be less than forty inches. A silver me dal. 16. Japanned Waiters, or Trays. For the best spe cimen of japanned waiters, or trays, made and japanned in Pennsylvania; an assortment to be exhibited. A sik ver medal. 17. Surveyors' Instruments. To the maker of the best surveyors' instruments. A silver medal. 18. To the maker of the best portable mountain Ba rometer. A silver medal. 19. Lithographic Stone. For the best specimens of lithographic stone, found in the United States. A silver medal. As a guide to those unacquainted with the particular kind required, a specimen of the German stone may be seen at the hall of the Institute. 20. Porcelain. For the best porcelain, made in the United States, gilt, painted, and plain; one hundred pieces must be exhibited. A silver medal. 21. Imitation Russia Leather. For the best specimen of imitation Russia leather; one dozen skins to be exhi 2. Tinned Cast Iron.-For the best specimen of tinned cast iron hollow ware, 'for culinary purposes; not less than one dozen pieces to be exhibited-A silver medal. 3. Iron Hollow Ware, coated with Porcelain.--For the best specimen of iron hollow ware, coated with porce-bited. A silver medal. lain, similar to that imported from Germany; not less than one dozen pieces to be exhibited.—A silver me dal. 4. Annealed Cast Iron.-For the best specimen of annealed cast iron; not less than one dozen pieces, for various purposes, to be exhibited.-A silver medal. 5. Smelting Iron Ore with Anthracite.-To the first person who, previous to the first day of January, 1830, shall have manufactured, in the United States, iron from the ore, using not less than one half anthracite coal; the quantity to be not less than twenty tons-A gold medal. 6. Sheet Iron. For the best specimen of rolled sheet iron, equal to that imported from Russia; not less than twelve sheets to be exhibited. A silver medal. 7. Cast Steel.-For the best specimen of cast steel, manufactured in the United States; not less than fifty pounds to be exhibited. A silver medal. 8. Files. To the manufacturer of the best files made in the U. States; twelve dozen, assorted sizes, to be exhi bited. A silver medal. 9. Stock, or Standing Vice. For the best stock, or standing vices, equalled to those called Tower Vices, and weighing thirty pounds, or upwards; three at least to be exhibited. A silver medal. 10. Pig Brass.-For the best specimen of pig brass, the zinc used to be the produce of the United States; not less than fifty pounds to be exhibited. A silver medal. 11. Crucibles. To 'the maker of the best crucibles, suitable for brass founders; the crucibles must be capable of resisting heat as well as the best now in use; one 22. Woollen Goods. To the manufacturer of the best piece of Broad Cloth, made in the United States; not less than 40 yards to be exhibited. A silver medal. 23. To the manufacturer of the best piece of cassi mere, made in the United States; not less than 40 yards to be exhibited. A silver medal. Regard will be had to the quality of the dye, as well as to the cloth, in premiums No. 22 and 23. 24. To the manufacturer of the best piece of satinett, made in the United States; not less than 100 yards to be exhibited. A silver medal. 25. To the maker of the best woollen blankets, made in the United States, two dozen pair to be exhibited. A silver medal. The blankets to be of the size known as 2, 24, or S points; regard will be had to weight, and no premium awarded, unless the quality be equal to that of the imported. 26. To the maker of the best ingrain carpeting: not less than 100 yards to be exhibited. A silver medal. The quality of colours will be considered in awarding this premium. 27. For the best specimen of stair carpeting, in imied. A silver medal. tation of Venetian; not less than 50 yards to be exhibit. 28. Cotton Goods.-For the best specimen of furniture chintz, made in the United States; not less than 300 yards to be exhibited. A silver medal. 29. To the manufacturer of the best specimen of calicoes, or prints, for ladies' dresses made in the United 128.1 GOVERNOR MIFFLIN'S MESSAGE. States; not less than 300 yards to be exhibited. A silver medal. 30. To the manufacturer of the best specimen of shirtings, not under No. 50, made in the United States; not less than 300 yards to be exhibited. A silver meidal. 31. To the manufacturer of the best specimen of dimities, made in the United States, which must be equal to that imported; not less than 100 yards to be exhibited. A silver medal. 32. To the manufacturer in Pennsylvania, of the best loom cotton stockings, bleached; not less than five doA silver medal. żen pairs to be exhibited. 103 The exhibition will commence on Tuesday, the 7th of October, and continue open four days.* All inquiries and communications respecting the exhibition, will receive prompt attention, if addressed to William Hamilton, Actuary, at the Hall of the Franklin Institute. GOVERNOR MIFFLIN'S MESSAGE, 1791 House of Representatives. While you are thus convened, in order to transact the 33. Sewing Silk. To the maker in Pennsylvania, of legislative business of our country, I cannot, I think, more properly introduce to you the subjects of my adthe greatest quantity of sewing silk, of good quality; dress, than by adverting to the conduct of the late gennot less than ten pounds; at least one pound to be exhi-eral assembly, as furnishing an honourable example for bited. A silver medal. 54. Cabinet Ware. To the maker of the best cabi nét secretary and book case. A silver medal. $5. To the maker of the best sofa. A silver medal. 36. To the maker of the best and most complete ward robe. A silver medal. 37. To the maker of the best chairs; one dozen to be exhibited. A silver medal. 38. Madder. To the person who shall cultivate the greatest quantity of madder, the produce of not less than a quarter of an acre; samples must be exhibited, with a certificate of the quantity produced. A silver medal. 39. Green Paint. For a green paint, which will stand the action of the sun better than any now in use. silver medal. A 40. Wall Colouring. For the best specimens of wall colouring; a variety of samples to be exhibited. A sil ver medal. 41. Bleaching Salts. To the manufacturer of the best bleaching salts, (chloride of lime,) made in the state of Pennsylvania; not less than five thousand pounds to be made during the year ending October 1, 1828; one hundred pounds to be exhibited. A silver medal. 42. Prussiate of Potash. To the manufacturer of the best prussiate of potash, (ferro cyanate of potassa) made in the state of Pennsylvania; not less than 1000 pounds to be made during the year ending October 1, 1828; fifty pounds to be exhibited--a silver medal. 43. Prussian Blue. To the manufacturer of the best Prussian blue, (ferro cyanate of iron) made in the state of Pennsylvania; not less than 1000 pounds to be made during the year ending October 1, 1828; 50 pounds to be exhibited. A silver medal. 44. Hanging Astral Lamp. To the maker of the best hanging astral lamp, made in the United States, with not less than five burners; the extreme diameter to be not less than fifty inches. A silver medal. 45. Machine Drawing. To the pupil of the high Conditions and Regulations. tion. ism. By The consequences of this enlightened policy, uniting with the temperate and industrious habits of our consti tuents, and the natural advantages of the soil and climate which we enjoy, present to your view a state of agriculture, commerce and arts, that may fairly awaken the pride, and must elevate the hopes, of every virtuous citizen. The contribution which Pennsylvania yields to the treasury of the Union, forms a competent evidence of the extent and emoluments of her trade. The rapid increase of her population, and the abundant supplies which she accumulates for foreign, as well as for domestic markets, will demonstrate the active and productive condition of her husbandry; and innumerable proofs arise in her city, towns, and villages, to display a general diffusion of useful knowledge, and the cultivation of every art, which is necessary, or ornamental, in society. To preserve and to improve the blessings of the situa tion which I have described, is the trust, gentlemen, confided to your care; and, as it is reasonable to presume that the expectations of our constituents will be raised, in proportion as this task has been facilitated, permit me to renew, at the present period, the most faithful assnrances, that your various exertions for the public good will receive all the aid, which it is in the power of the executive to bestow. Contemplating the many important points that engaged the attention of the preceding general assembly, you will perceive, gentlemen, that the consolidation of the revenues, and the exoneration from the pressure of the debts of the commonwealth, deserve to be peculiarly distinguished, on account of the beneficial effects which they have already produced; for, the public resources, moulded into one aggregate fund, have been rescued from that confusion, which partial appropriations of collection, had unavoidably occasioned; while the means that were directed to be employed, for the satisfaction specific branches, together with a tardy and precarious of the public creditors, have given celebrity to our new When articles are for sale, the maker's name and re-government, and amply praoide, at the commencement sidence, together with the price of goods, must be affix ed to them, or transmitted to William Hamilton, Actuary, at the Hall of the Institute. No premium will be awarded a second time for the rior to such as have been formerly exhibited, the price same article; nor for one, the quality of which is infebeing considered. When a premium is offered for the best article of any description, it will not be awarded excepting the quality is such as to merit it. Articles of extraordinary merit, not contained in the following list, may receive honorary premiums on the award of the managers. of the ensuing year, for the extinguishment of all the pecuniary obligations of the state, except those resting on the principal of the funded and depreciation certificates. It will add to your pleasure on this occasion, to observe, from the report of the sales of stock which the secretary is directed to present to you, that great "precaution was taken to prevent a depreciation of the debt of the United States, which might have happened from too suddenly over-charging the market; and our suc |