Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-11-02
A VISIT TO BALTIMORE.

land Institute to the members OF the Cen"ai ooln-
mittee on the London Exhibition and otner geptle-
men Of this city to attend the meeting OF the Instr
tute to be held on Friday at Washington Hall, in
the city Of Baltimore. The invitation thus poisely
given was accepted by the Committee, majority
Of whom proceeded to Baltimore on Friday morn
inp. at nine o'clock in special car provided for
their accommodation. The party consisted of the
following gentlemen, members OF the committee
PETER FORCE, Esq, Prof. HENRY, Prof. JOHNSON,
w. w. SEAToN, Esq, CHARLES f. STANsBURY,
ESQ, Hon. THoMAs EwBANK, WnLIAH EAsBy,
ESQ, DR.. L. d. GALE, and j. C. g.. KENNEDY,
Esq, in. addition to whom were DIR. PAGE, OF the
Patent Office, and Dr. FOREMAN, Of the Smithsonian
Institution. 1t was anticipated and earnestly de-
sired by the gentlemen who conveyed the invita-
ton that the PRESIDENT of the United States and
several members of the Cabinet would favor the
Institute with their presence; but official engage
ments prevented them, as did the incemency of the
weather in the early part of the day many other
invited guests.
AT the depot in Baltimore the party was received
by Joint Committee Of the Maryland Institute
and the MARYLAND Agricultural Society, consisting
Of Messrs. VANsANT, President, NEEDLES, Vice
Presidents and REYNOLDS, SMITH, ABRAMS, FISHER,
and LovEoRovE, members of the Institute; and of
w. w. w. BOWIE, Esq, DR.. JOHN o. WHARTON,
MARTIN GoLDsBoRoUGH, ESQ.,, THOMAS HOLIDAY,
and JAMES WALSH, Esqs., members of the Agrl-
cultural Society.
Carriages were in waiting, and the party driven
first to the Agricultural Fair at CarrolPs Woods.
The rain, which had threatened to mar the enjoy
ments Of the occasion, had now almost ceased and
allowed the party to examine without inconve-
nence the curious objects which here attracted their
attention. The site chosen for the exhibition has
been selected with much judgment: it is level
plain, in the immediate neighborhood of the city,
surrounded by grove of magnificent trees The
grounds are enclosed by substantial fence, and
suitable buildings provided for the purposes of the
exhibition. We understand that efforts are making
by the Society, and we hope they may prove sue
cessful, to secure lease of these grounds for a
term Of years, SO that they may be justified in put
ting up substantial buildings for their permanent
accommodation. The present buildings stand in
the centre of the enclosures the sheds for the stock
are arranged next the fence, and the open space
between is devoted to the display of agricultural
machinery and implements.
Our limits will not permit us to enter into an emu
meration of the great variety Of articles exhibited
the local papers contain detailed catalogues, which
are doubtless accessible to those more directly in
terested. And vet, where all was so admirable and
so worthy of notice, we feel the embarrassment of
making selection. In the comparatively short Pc
riod allowed for the visit of the committee, much
no doubt escaped their notice; but they enough
to delight, and, we may add without disparagement,
to surprise them--to give them new ideas of the
progress Maryland has already made in agriculture,
and Of her capacities for further advances.
The neat cattle exhibited occupied between two
,C,,,,
evidence Of the care bestowed upon this branch Of
husbandry. They were chiefly of the Durham,
Devon, and Ayrshire varieties, many Of the speci-
mems of unsurpassed excellence. The horses,
sheep, and swine were also highly creditable and
our admiration was not less excited by the display
of FOWLS some of which surpassed in size any that
we had before seen.
After viewing the stock with evident qualification.
the committee were conducted to the main exhbi-
ton room, where they had an opportunity of exam
lining fine specimens of fruits and flowers, and of
the handiwork and housewifery of Maryland's fair
daughters some of whom, Notwithstanding the un-
propitious character of the day, graced the exhbi
ton by their presence. The hall was hung with
variety of articles of needework, whose names and
uses Except the beautiful quilts and counterpanes)
are sealed book to poor unlnitiated masculinity.
Not so the nut-brown loaves-light as feathers and
white within as the lily hands whose skill they testi-
fed-which were displayed in tempting profuson
upon the board. 1t was the hour for lunch and
despite the warning notice hands off, which
stared them in the face, the committee, being inst-
gated thereto by their hospitabe entertainers, added
to the evidence of to the goodness of the
cheer that other further and more potent test which
the proverb has confined to puddings only. The
impunty Of one infracon led as usual, to another,
and hams, honey, cakes, and currant wine were
n furn cYlhiecfed In the same ordeal .si
This agreeable episode closed the visit to the
main exhibition room, whence the party proceeded
to an examination of the agricultural machinery and
implements, which were exhibited in great numSer
and variety. They paused moment however, to
admire some fine mutton among the specimens OF
which single sheep had attained the extraordinary
weight Of two hundred and ninety pounds, and had
been purchased for the still more extraordinary price
of one hundred dollars
Prominent among the agricultural machinery was
a portable steam-boiler and engine, placed upon
wheels for transportation 10 any point on the farm
where its services might be required and capable of
being geared to any number of different labor-savng
machines. 1t was here applied to the portable saw
mill of Mr.. PAGE, of Washington, which was in full
operations. The committee seemed particularly in
terested in the numerous reaping, threshing, and
seeding machines which were exhibited. The first
of these differed from the welknown machine of
MCCoRMcK, in having shears substituted for long
horizontal blade. A machine which at once thresh-
ed cleaned, and bagged the grain was in operation,