Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-25

ADDRESS OF PHILIP ST. GEORGE COOKE ESQ,
President of The Virginia State agricultural Society,
deferred at general Meeting Of The Society, hid in the
Hall ofthe House Of Delegates Thursday, 10Th of
March, 1853
Gentlemen, of the Agricultural Society," annot,
for the first time take the Chair President Of h State
Agricultural Society, without returning you, asl
do my uneigned thanks for the honor conferred upon me-
an honor. however, which feel to be quite unmeritd
my part andfor which, fear shall be wholly una6e to
any adequate the way ofsevices to be
dered in the good of your association honour
which would most gladly have conferred upon
on the indulgence of the Society and encouraged by
marked expression OF your partialty and Of YOU
wishes enter upon the duties assigned me, and for
their discharge only pledge to you the exero1 Of
my humble but best and zeal Jus efforts.
This meeting, gentlemen, has been called by the tx
ecuve ommttee of your Society. who has resolved 70
make another aud strenuous effort to resusctate the
Society from its past and present langulshlng cond-
tion
have been invited in this city, and at this time
to operate with the Committee in this ariuous but IN
teresting and patriotic undertaking. And am happy to
be able congratulate you upon the hearty response
everywhere made to this call evlnced as well by the
numbers by the zeal and intelligence Of this meet
ing - . ,
Gentlemen have called you here to aid in this work
of revivng State Agricultural Society of placing ii
upon permanent aud useful basis to cheer us by " III
presence and your sympathes to aid with your coun
sell and to support US by your members and by your
means.
The committee nave rightly Jud geo tnaI spirit OF IN
quiry and desire Tor progress has, at last
come to dfuse itself through agricultural classes
The fruitful seeds of this spirit have been long since
scattered broad coast through community by such
leading minds those of John Taylor of Rufn, Skin
! ner Garrett Newton and others. Chemical scienso
steadily advancing since the days OF Sir Humphrey
Davy now pours flood of light the pathway q
the mother of Arts Improved machinery mes to light
en- the abours OF the field. Ma iuf,c to .
thousand the increased fruits of tn EARTH Work
Of internal improvement carry mark ct to every farm
whilst expanding commerce lays the whole wor
under contribution consumers OF the products OF OF
agriculture.
AT q time and in tho midst of circumstances ausj
cious to invite the organization and cooper
ton of the agricultural interests throughout the State
We know that this thing has been attempted beftI
and that all such attempts have hit heto taiel
know too, that before did SO hopeful. bril-
future reveal itsefas that which invites the SC
tiny and stimulates the exertions of every enlighte
agrcuturst throug bout our good Old Dominion.
perceive that new day has dawned, that st
is awakene1 that young and vigorous hands ana he
enlisted and ensting in the cause ofagricultur?
form and Improvement whilst science wisdom and e.
Renee ready to dlret every movement ami to o
the most successful results /
Why, at tn very time there not less than Ell /
State Agricultural Societies in the Union-each png
its numerous county societies, and all working hah
ously, prosperously and advdn ageously. Sew OF
these societies-each publishing annually vtoe I
volume of ttansactons-thereb y collecting dilfusand
pc 1etuating amount of valuable STATISTICAL az
ricultural information; society eliciting la
bours of the best mi nds i'll both the science art OF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. generous and enlighed RI
zing and conducting annual cattle shows aud sl ltura
fairs which exhibited the most mproye cd cimens
OF the various species domestic animalsufe fruits
OF the eartl--of domestic manufactures and agricui
tural r.plemeuts and nachines-and at VIII all the 9
farmers OF the State. their wives. their ms and :
their daughters come togeth to a great Iona Ju-
bilee return thanks to "a kind Providence Che over
flowing fruits OF their abours-o greet eaother as
members of common fraternity to interclge ali the
courteses OF liie-to extend acquaintance
friendshlp-to acquire and to impart innaton--
and and to carry out measures the still
further progress and Improvement OF the at art OF
Agriculture.
And what others have so happily done, can not and
shall not also do!
Let take courage too from the vast progr. eoiag
throug hout the civilized world in all the of life
akin to our own.
Steam clippers and caloric ships have Dried the
ocean from continent to continent and brought man
kind from the remotest of the earth nto great
family of nations The art OF printing spresig The
Gospel of Pence to "every kin red tongue and ton,
whilst it is difusng tn" lights of truth and of kedge
the darkest abodes of ignorance ani OF Athen
ism. Commerce is spreading her free wings befoevery
breeze oflieaven. The railroad and the telegr@ are
binding the interests OF man to those OF his telo
with hoops OF steel Science has found the gol' kcy
to natures laws and the genins oithe mechanic Is
erywhere ynSing these laws to her uses and treby
substituting mind aud machinery for manual lahour.
The boundless treasures OF California ana Austria
causing exodus OF the old nations oi Europe al OF
ASIA which pouring flood oil emigration, suA
the world has before Witnessed bull ling up tut
cities and nations less than the period OF single ~
Grafton and in countries which but yesterday w'e
howIing wiIdernesses whilst brilliant and e.give
flood OF gold pours through every OF eanmers
fo gid these vast trluhphs oil mind matter
Already at the very dawn oths glorious day If pr
z. es our merchants have become princes, manufa