The New York herald., 1845-10-13

The AMERICAN INSTITUTE There is quite fal
ling of IN the Fair Of the American Institute this
year. 1t has, indeed, been sinking from year to
year. and the number of visitors has been annually
decreasing.
What is the cause Of this? Located In the great
metropolis Of the Union-possessing SO many facill-
ties for becoming indeed a national institution, COM
mandng universal respect, and advancing In an
eminent degree the science arts and industry Of the
whole country-liberany endowed by the State,
does seem strange, that this Amencan Institute is
comparatively such paltry and humbugging af.
fair It's, however, very easy to explain the mys-
terry. Bad management-the continued control OF
petty clique, characterized by all the vices Of clique
ism, selfishness, iliberality, stupidity and in
justice, have been the causes of the lamentabie
decay and degradation Of the Institute. few in
dlviduals manage the receIpts-know where the
money goes to-hll the most important ofices-pack
the commttees-supervise and over-rue, as they
please, the decisions of the judges-and effectualy
cripple the institution OF all its means OF usefulness
its reputation and value as great public body, os-
tensbly devoted to the most important public OBJ
jects.
Efforts have been repeatedly made, and persever-
ed in with zeal that deserved success, tor the pur-
pose of reforming the Institute, and throwing of
the balefu influence of the Clique that rules 1t. But
they have all, as YET, tailed. The Clique is still all
powerful. Flaming annual reports OF the astonish-
ing prosperity of the Institute are still issued. Bonn
bastic addresses, by the members of the clique,
putting themselves ad naaseam, are still spoken at
every "Fair." The "Premium Committee" still
control the decisions of the Judges. Paltry musical
entertainments are given, in the hope of catching
few additional Quarters" Fireworks are nightly
discharged "at an enormous expense" to please the
children. The whole affair is turned into a bur-
lesque on scientific and patriotic institution, and
candies, soap, and cooking stoves. continue to mo-
nopolize the exhibitions, and the pewter medals,
generously distributed at the expense of the fortu
nate artists to whom the prizes are adjudicated.
We thus speak of the failure Of this Institute, more
in sorrow than in anger. Instead OF occupying
such degraded and disreputable position, ii
ought to be able to command the respect and adml.
ration of the whole country Well managed-con-
Quoted with liberaiy, justice, and high and honor
able Of duty, the part of all connected with
1.-THE American Institute might now possess
an ample revenue, and ample means OF every sort,
to be munificent patron of scieuce and the arts
stimulating and aiding invention, genius, aud skill
in all departments of industry and art. If the Ins
tute had been thus managed, Niblo's Garden would
not be able to contain tenth of the really merlto
rous and interesting articles sent annually for ex
| hlbition.
1t is not too late to make another effort to reform
this Institute. Il is lamentable to it following SC
rapidly into decay and ruin Let the Legislature Of
the State be called in institute investigation into
its affairs and let all honorable and worthy men con-
nected with it, whose counsel aid, and disinterest
ed exertions in its behalf, have been contumeliousy
rejected by selfish clique unite in last endeavol
to convert it from being nice little in the
hands of few individuals, to what it was intended
to be and what it yet be made-a great national
institution for the promotion of science, and in
dustry.