Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-25
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES CAROLINA
~ VIRGINIA

pathy with, and participation in, the progressive
spirit of the age, which nowhere more dis
tinctly shows its noble, useful, and practical
aims than in the matter of agriculture. A
State agricultural fair was lately held in
Raleigh-the first State fair that has been held
in North Carolina. The success of it seems to
have been complete. 1t was numerously attend
ed and largely supplied with products of indus
try and specimens of mechanical skill. A very
interesting address was delivered on the occa-
sion by the Hon. A. w. Venable. 1t is pleasant
to see, as we now SO often do, such evidences
of active and lively interest in the subject of
agriculture. This is one of the brightest and
most promising signs Of the times. The whole
country, north, south, east and west has caught
the spirit. Emulation has been excited among
the farmers-an emulation that we doubt not
will lead to the most extensive improvements
and the most useful results.
We transfer to our columns, from the Raleigh
Register, the following animated account of the
fair, the address, and the general proceedings:
1.-THE Great state Fair.
"Never, within our editorial experience, have
we chronicled any event with more heartfelt graf
ifcation than that which we now feel in recording
the complete success of the first North Carolina
State Fair! We say complete success for, whether
we take into consideration the immense number
and the high responsibility of the persons pres
ent-the character Of the exhibition itself-the
demonstrations which met the eye at every gaze
Of the available and nexhaustible resources Of the
state-or the indications of State pride and State
patriotism, which everywhere found vent il was
IN each and every respect, triumph for North
Carolna-a triumph of which all her sons, who
have her welfare and reputation at heart, may
well be proud We confess that at no previous
time have we glored more in the fact that we
were citizen of North Carolina, than when, on
the opening of this fair, we beheld the evidences
OF greatness, prosperity, and progress, that put
10 shame the empty derision of the Writings who
have made her butt for their ridcule. In no
State OF this Union has an experimental initatory
fair been successful so enli,ieatly eredita5L,
This is the unanimous declaration of those from
abroad who have favored us with their presence
Nearly every section of the State, and every in
dustrial pursuit within its borders, were repre-
scented. The east sent its fine staples and its
blooded stock; the west its splendid cattle and its
rich minerals. The farmer poured in his agricul-
tural products--the mechanic brought forward
splendid specimens of his skill-the native artist
exhibited the productions of his pen or his pen
cil--and the ladies Of the State never behindhand
in any good work or benefcent object crowned
the excellence of the whole with the multiplied
beauties which nature had yielded 10 their culture,
and the varied and tasteful attractions which had
sprung from their handicrat
The address of the Hon. A. W. Venable was
delivered on Wednesday, on the grounds, 10 a
very large concourse. By extraordinary exertions,
we are enabled to present it in our columns to-day
entire. We have no time for further comment
than to say, that il deserves and will repay care
fnl perusal Its delivery was Justly attended with
very great satisfaction and delight upon the part
of the auditory. mn
The number OF persons on the grounds, on
press, (FridayD has been variously estimated at
from four to SIX thousand; and the receipts from
admission to the exhibition and from accessions to
the State society have been very large.n
VIRGINIA. The old dominion, also exhibits
the same earnest and active spirit of improve
ment in this department of industry. Sparsely
populated as she is, having few large cities and
vast extent of surface possessed of a large and
growing slave population-most of her citizens
engaged in the primitive and eminently respect
able pursuit of tlling the soil, there is no State
in the Union which can be more benefited by
improved systems of agriculture. Whatever
tends to this result is to her a matter of the
last Importance, and it is with sincere pleasure
that we see her giving evidence of being alive
to her true interests. She has within her
borders the best, most scientific, and distin
guished agriculturist that this country has ever
produced Edmund Ruffin, esq. This gentle
mans admirable ESSAYS and bright example
have done more for Virginia farmers than all
other causes combined. He has, by means
Of various tracts, writings, and experiments,
awakened attention, impaired information, and
excited spirit of general emulation.
We are glad to see that the projected vir-
ginia State Fair to be held in Richmond, is
exciting SO profound and pervading an inte-
rest. The presses TEEN with notices of it. The
people in every section Of the State seem to be
industriously preparing for it,
We extract from the Valley Democrat the
following paragraph, and are gratifed to learn
that the valley region Of Virginia takes lively
interest in the approaching fair:
The State Fair.--The first exhibition Of the
Virginia State Agricultural Society," will be held
in the city of Richmond on the LIST, 3D. Sd and 9TH
days of November, and il is highly gratifying 10
witness the deep interest that is taken by the peo-
pie OF the Valley in this very commendable enter
prise. Many of our citizens are becoming men,
bers of the society, and when il shall be known
that the railroad companies. with liberaity
equailed only by their zeal for the public good have
proposed TO transport the members of the society,
stock and implements for exhibition, TO and from
the fair over their respective roads gratis, MANY
more will be induced to become members This
liberality on the part Of the railroad companies
manifests an appreciation Of the benefits which
are TO result from this organization, that is highly
creditable to the enlightened heads Of those COM
panies, and must exert a wholesome influence
upon the public mind.
We would announce 10 our friends who NAV
desire TO visit the metropolis Of the state on this
very interesting occasion, that they can obtain
certificates Of membership by application to MAJ.
j. s. Calvert.
Col. FREMoSr.-This gentleman, who has
been detained here several days on account of
i'll health, has, we are gratifed to announce, suf
ficiently recovered from his indisposition to en-
able him to resume his winter expedition over