The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-10-11

ADDRESS LAST EVENING IN THE Saloon AT NBLo's
GARDEN BEFoRE.rHE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, BY THE
Hon. HENRY MEIGs.-The Saloon at Niblo's Gar
den last evening, presented Que OF the most brilliant
sights ever beheld. The attendance during the
day had been rather thin, 1t being The opening day
of the Fair, and a multitude of articles not being
yet ready for exhibition. But IN the evening the
grand Saloon, together with the main walk, the
Cloth Rooms, the Machine Rooms, the Horticultu-
raj Hall, and the garden outside, were all brilliantly
Illuminated and presented grand and imposing
appearance, while large and respectable assem-
blage of ladies' and gentlemen were there TO admire
il. Many of them had come, according 10 an-
nouncement, TO hear an address by his Honor Judge
Ings.
AT half past seven, Gen. TAI.LMADGE, the honora-
BILE President OF the Society, arose and stated IN
behalf of the Institute, that the Fair Is now open
for public exhibition although II is very tar from
being yet filled, and complete II will be in day
or two He then stated that the Ploughing Match,
and testing of ploughs, would come oil on Wednes-
day next nj two p NJ and the National Conven-
ton on Thursday at IL A. NJ He also stated that
they were this year able do what they had never
before been able to accomplish. that is TO treat the
audience to occasional addresses 1t is expected
that the Hon. Mr.. Maclay Will deliver an address
this Tuesday evening. President Tallmadge then
informed the audience, that in consequence OF in
disposition, his Honor Judge Ingis was unable to
appear this evening, Dut would nave the pleasure Oh
addressing them before the close of the Fair. His
place this evening would be supplied by the Hon.
Mr. Meigs.
Mr.. Megs then arose amid the applause of the
audience and delivered short but very able adj
dress, highly appropriate to the OCCASION but of
which we are utterly unable to find room for more
than a brief notice. In his preliminary remarks he
contrasted the ancient trlumphs OF war with the
modern trlumphs of the more peaceful arts. He al
luded to the days OF the Roman Emperors, with
their colislum, and their gladat0ra shows; but
they had no such triumphs as this to celebrate. He
then briefly traced the progress OF the arts and
| sciences down to the present time-touching upon
! the long period OF thousand years. In which Eng
| land was stationary in agriculture-upon the time
| when in England an OK weighing 400 pounds was
| accounted large-and when she imported her eggs
| from Flanders 1t was not until the l4th century
that even the King himself deigned to the art-
Gle of cea Even late as 1854 the article of silk
| in every form was quite forbidden, under heavy
| forfeit. He then came down to the days OF Eli
Whitney, in 1875, when he was accounted poor,
false enthusiast, specializing the matter of cot
ton gin. He then traced the progress of steam pow
er from miles an hour to 20-untll finally the
broad Atlantic itself has become but simple ferry,
with regular ferry bells to ring the stated hours for
leaving the dock. Canals and Railroads next
claimed his attention, and the Emperor Nicholas
received a handsome compliment. True we
are in debt, said he, $500, 100000 Tor our
American railroads, but who will vote to have them
taken upl We will yet pay every dollar of the debt
-(applause) land justice shall ride with us upon
every road-(c )-repudiation shall never be
fastened upon us. loud applause But we must
pass over much that we would gladly touch upon
his eulogum upon iron, upon cotton, and upon that
chef d'Guprc of engineering, the Croton aqueduct.
Adieu said he, now to all the dust and drought of
all the summers for thousand years to come.
Cloud cheerng). He concluded his short address
with well merited encomium upon the American
Institute.
The whole went off in fine style, and every one
seemed to be in high spirits.