Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-10-13
THE GREAT AGRICULTURAL
MEETING AT ROCHESTER,.

The late annual meeting of the State Agricultu-
raj Society, at the city of Rochester, was, by all
accounts, most multitudinous turn out. Many
thousands of the enterprsing, intelligent, and thri-
wing farmers of Western New York, were present
with numerous samples of all the varieties of the
farmers stock and produce, and with them nu-
merous representation of the mechanic classes, es-
peciay of those whose pursuits and fabrics connect
them directly with the cultivators of the soil.
One of the most opposite and really striking and
entertaining speeches called forth by the OCCASION
made by our respected and eslimabe fellow
citizen, Capt. Thaddeus Joy, for many years
nbabiiant of this city, but for large portion of
his useful and active life citizen of Western New
York.-.7tany Weekly Ga.ere.
Mr.. PRESIDENT intended only to rise
and offer a sentiment, but finding myself
here, as do, among Agriculturaists fear
if do not say something before withdraw
ing from this festive board, by way of ex-
PLANTATION, shall be looked upon as one of
those objects j have so often seen adyertis-
ed in the country newspapers, which used to
read something i'll this wise :-"Broke into
the enclosure of the subscriber, on or about
the Sd ult., dark brindle, brockled faced,
lop horn, &c. &c. The owner is desired
10 prove property, pay charges, and take him
away-as lac appears to no very unruly."
| say if do not explain myself, am
afraid l shall come under this head-because
| am not farmer. | have brought here no
specimens from my herds or my nocks; no
samples from my fields or my gardens; but
| have good excuse for this, for am so
unfortunate us not to possess either 1t is
also well known by those who have been
long acquainted with me, that for more than
five and thirty years have been engaged in
mercantile and commercial pursuits. Well
then, says one, why comes he here among
us plough holders 1t is this imaginary
question wish now TO answer.
And one reason which brings me here, is,
| consider agriculture the great source from
which all other things derive their existence
look upon it as the great LeUer by which
all the pursuits of the human family are
raised up and put in motion Another rea.
son is, love to mingle with the hard-hand
ed, sun-burnt, tillers Of the ground.
But what gave this particular exhibition
the greatest attraction to me was its location
in Western NeD York. To me CHERISH
ed name. say this, among other things
because it was formerly my home for thirty
years, Notwithstanding l began to be oollec
an old settler in the city of Albany
But, gentlemen, | should still feel as tho
might come under the head of the stray Il
, which had alluded, were it not that coult
say to you that | was among the early Pion
GERS Of Western New York-was itnot tina
/ | could tell you had there for seven year
swung the axe, the rail mall, the handspik
and the threshing falkland helped with m
own hands to convert its sturdy forests int
7 fertile fields and there became perfect
familiar with the log cabins which consttut
! ed the abodes of the first settlers, and who's
! rude roofs so scantly protected US from tn
S pattering rains Of summer and the more pelt
: ing storms of winter-and were it not, also
{ could say to you that when | helped t
gather the first piece of corn which our fan
4 ily raised in Western New York, such wa
my sense of the necessity of food to subsi'
upon, that when husked those bright an
: yellow ears, they looked richer to me tina
t bars of gold. Having seen and done thes
things, l lay them before you as my apology
S and if ever forget them, or if ever POI
d sess too much pride to alude to these hun
t BILE circumstances, may my name be blotte
from the records of society.
n have said, Mr.. President and gentlemen
n that was among the early pioneers of We
tern New York, Although my head hi
d been exposed to almost sixty summer sun
e and as many wintry irosts, yet | will not 81
d was among the earliest pioneers, but b
it lieye shall be borne out in saying | WI
lie among the early ones, when tell you that
+" came into Western New York at so early
period, that there was then no county in Il
" State, west of the county of Ontaro al
ID although that county then contained all Il
id territory now embracedn her present boun'
,e and also that which is now comprised
g; the counties of Yates, Wayne, Monroe, O
ID leans, Niagara, Erie, Genesee, Wyomin