Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-09

probation OF this sosioy they should presented through
the medium Of the press, to czens at large. they
would doubtless command attention. excite deep inter-
est and arouse spirit OF improve which might re-
suit in great and lasting good.
am afraid sir, have detained the society and this in
dulgent audience quite too long, with nv attempts to
point out those Objects which my opinion should claim
our particular and immediate attention. or should be
pleased TO add few remarks of the moro impor
ant arts, and tho means by which this association could
aid their advancement With your permission howeyer
will invite our ingenious and scientific artists to favour
our annual meetings with exhibition OF tho various sne
cimens Of their workmanship, and models descriptions
oil any important Improvements in machinery hch tev
may have made or noticed Such an exhibition will be-
hgh'y oenehciai not only 10 but TO the artists
selves, it will afford society an opportunity of he
coming acquainted with their attanment and of patronz
ing their inventive genius and mechanic skill
am aware sir, that in efforts to establish this So
ciey on permanent basis shall meet with inilI,r
ence and perhaps opposition from all those who are too
deficient IN public spirit or in energy TO engage i'm anv
enterprise, unless they perfectly convinced that il
must inevitably succeed. Such persons will assure
us that all our attempts will prove aborive that all vol.
untary associations which have been il,
the State, have had but cphemera existence and
soon dngushed and died. that certainly such win
be the late OF this society But suppose sir that This
Institution should survive many wears: that II il nos
sioe that there may not be found sufficient energy in
me whole State 10 sustain its operations for great
ume sun such the nature Of the object il has i'm
view that during short existence il will have Az
conpiished much that will he valuable and that womb
not be obtained by any other meaus The valuable HE.
lo"cai manuscripts and mneraogical specimens already
presented and before us, aud the great IN
our numbers oil iase, are suspicious future sue
cess This society, too, is designed occupy more ex
tensive range than tina, Of any other existing in our
country Ii embraces the whole field of history science
and the arts aad soics tho efforts and energy of ali on
ngntened citizens, who willing devote portion of
their time and talents advancement of such obac
az are connected with the best interests Of the comoon
wealth For one, then instead of fearing failure shall
look forward with pleasing antcipations the time when
our library VIII conain all the and valuable ras
Tor iuIi and correct exposition of the physical
ana the intellectual power and moral worth of those
Oh virginia, who distinguished ornaments of their
country ana beneactors OF mankind when our cabinet
ana museum will have embraced all those i'm
geology, mineraogy zoology and botany, which are ne
eeSsary to illustrate natural history and display our
physical anniversaries shall excite
lively interest throughout the State and call into action
IT'S genius and ion:-whcn our various
sha elicit the latent energies OF the mind and omen ne
trains oil thought when, in word, the combined one
ions oil our members, ~a tend pow erluy TO advance
the various sciences and the useful arts aud create and
dhuse such taste for intellectual mt among
our clizen as will assist in giving Virginia that
standing among her sister States which her rich natural
resources no less than her moral and her political
power so Justly en,ite her 10 maintain. And with this
view sir, shall confidently that every real paot
anu phiianthropist within her boundaries and every c
zen who loves the Old Dominion aud her institutions will
rejoice TO contribute all in his power the
objects OF our society," and euergize the action 10 in
crease the prosperity. and to brighten the glory of the
Commonwealth