seat of government, at which are to be elected the president, secretary, &c., and a board, to consist of not more than thirty persons, which shall be called the "board of agriculture;" that the society shall be a body corporate; that a report shall be made annually, &c. The report concluded with a resolution in these words: "Resolved, That a society for the promotion of agriculture ought to be established at the seat of government of the United States."

The report was twice read and ordered to be referred to a committee of the whole on the following Monday. But no action was taken. On that day, during a prolonged debate as to the necessity for direct taxation, there was a conflict of opinion between the representatives of commercial and of agricultural constituencies, which, perhaps, made the friends of the resolution fearful that it would, if pressed to a vote, be defeated. Besides, it was associated with a recommendation for a military academy, which Mr. Jefferson had openly opposed, on the ground that "none of the specific powers given by the Constitution to Congress would authorize it." Colonel John Taylor of Caroline, in one of his admirable essays, signed "Arator," censured Congress for their action in recommending a society which he called a "toy for its amusement," and said: "This toy was found to be unconstitutional because it would add but little to the power of the general government, and the infant was turned to graze in impoverished fields. The Constitution was construed to exclude Congress from the power of fostering agriculture by patents or bounties, and to give it the power of fostering banks and manufactures by patents and bounties."

General Washington, three days after the termination of his presidential career, and when about to return to rural life at Mount Vernon, the "haven of his hopes," wrote to Sir John Sinclair: "I am sorry to add that nothing final in Congress has been decided respecting the establishment of a national board of agriculture recommended by me at the opening of the session. But this did not, I believe, proceed from any disinclination to the measure, but from their limited sitting and a pressure of what they conceived more important business. I think it highly probable that next session will bring the matter to maturity."

These brief extracts show clearly the desire of the "Father of his Country” to see a central agricultural organization established under the fostering care of the federal government, and they call for a conspicuous record on the monument now being erected to his memory, that "the encouragement of agricultural improvement and information was among the favorite wishes of his heart."

ESTABLISHMENT OF AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.

At the commencement of the present century there was a general disposition manifested to encourage agriculture, and to use broadcloths, silks, kerseys, and nankeen cotton goods of home growth and manufacture. In 1804 it was suggested by Dr. Thornton, the first Commissioner of Patents, then residing in Washington, which was literally a "city in the woods," that the ready sale of cattle and of domestic products could be promoted by the holding of fairs or market days, as in England, his native land. The idea met with the warm approval of the citizens, and the municipal authorities passed an act establishing semi-annual fairs. An editorial article in the National Intelligencer, of October 17, spoke of the coming fair as offering advantages to purchasers and to settlers, "while at the same time it can but prove equally beneficial to the agricultural interests of our country."

The fair was held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, on "the mall at the south side of the Tiber, extending from the bridge at the Centre market to the Potomac." "It was a decided success," and before the next one was held an attempt was made by additional legislation on the part of the city government to increase its usefulness by appropriating fifty dollars towards a fund for premiums. The citizens raised by subscription an equal sum, so that at the fair,

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which began on the 26th of April, 1805, “premiums to the amount of one hundred dollars were awarded to the best lamb, sheep, steer, milk cow, yoke of oxen, and horse actually sold." A third fair was held in November, 1805, after which they were discontinued.

THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING PUBLIC ECONOMY.

Early in the year 1806, Joel Barlow, esq., then residing at Kalorama, in the vicinity of Washington, published the prospectus of a "national academy," in which he enumerated, among the foreign institutions to be copied in forming an American organization, the agricultural societies of England and the veterinary school of France.

Meanwhile an institution had been organized by "members of Congress, officers of the federal government, and others, devoted to objects connected with public economy." Meetings were held at Mr. Hervey's, on Pennsylvania avenue, every Saturday evening, from five until eight o'clock, and among the subjects considered were:

"4. Our mechanical economy, or the means of abridging labor by useful-inventions, implements, and apparatus.

5. Our agricultural economy, or the means of producing the most abundant and most reciprocal crops, under any given circumstances, without doing things by guess.

"6. The economy of our forests, or the best management of our latent resources there."

This was probably the association alluded to in the proceedings of the Philadelphia Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, on the 8th of April, 1806, when Dr. Mease, in describing a machine for hulling clover, recommended that the account "be published in the newspapers, and communicated to the Agricultural Society at Washington."

THE ARLINGTON SHEEP SHEARING.

The determination throughout the Union to wear goods of domestic manufacture gave an impetus to wool growing, and the importation of choice sheep soon became a mania. A fine flock of French merinoes was selected from the royal sheep-fold at Rambouillet, and brought over by Mr. Livingstone; and Colonel Humphreys sent from Spain a flock of seventy-five ewes and twenty-five rams, of pure Spanish merino blood, of which nine were lost at sea, and the remaining ninety-one were landed at Derby, Connecticut, in 1802. Large importations of Spanish merinoes were soon afterwards made, and several flocks were selected for the District of Columbia by William Jarvis, esq., United States consul at Lisbon, who guaranteed the "Paulers" to be of the "true Leonese Transumante merino blood," and the Aquerres, in point of pure blood and finoness of wool, not excelled by any Cubana in Spain." Some of these sheep were sold at fabulous prices, and for some years wool growing was the favorite feature of American agriculture, while "sheep shearings" were the farmer's festivals.

Prominent among these "sheep shearings" were those established, and continued for a dozen years, by George Washington Parke Custis, at "Arlington," his estate opposite Washington, on the Virginia side of the Potomac. Those associated with him in after life in the "United States Agricultural Society," will not wonder that large collections of prominent men used to accept his hospitable invitation to be present at these gatherings, where he entertained his guests beneath the marquee used throughout the Revolution by his illustrious guardian, George Washington. A programme of one of these rural festivals, as published in the Georgetown paper of the day, merits preservation.

"PREMIUMS AT ARLINGTON ON THE 30TH OF APRIL, 1809.

"Sheep:

"For the best tup-lamb, of one year, a silver cup, value sixty dollars. "For the best pair of ewes, of same age, a silver cup, value forty dollars.

"Principle established:

"To the sheep which shall possess the best form, and yield the most and best wool in proportion to its size, the premium will be adjudged.

"To the man (being a native American) who shall clip a fleece in the shortest time and best style, by clipping after the English fashion, five dollars.

"Manufactures:

"For the national military dress, or uniform of Morgan's riflemen, with a complete statement of the expense accompanying the same, twenty dollars.

"For the best five yards of cloth, yard wide, and composed of cotton and silkthe silk to be derived from articles which have been worn out, as gloves, umbrellas, &c.-fifteen dollars.

"For the best blanket of common size, ten dollars.

"For the best five yards of flannel, to be all wool, ten dollars.

"For the best ball of wool-yarn, weighing one pound, which shall be spun to the greatest fineness on a wheel, to be ascertained by weighing any ten yards in the ball, five dollars.

"To that family, in the county of Alexandria, who shall make it appear that they have made the greatest quantity of wearing apparel of domestic manufactures, and used the least of foreign importations, the largest prize fleece.

"To that family, in said county, who shall prove that to a given number of female children, the most are good spinners, the next largest fleece.

"To the cultivator of the soil, in said county, who shall prove that he has manured most land from his own resources, in the last twelve months, toll free at the Washington Mills for one year.

"WASHINGTON, November 20, 1808."

After the premiums had been awarded at these festivals, Mr. Custis would invite his guests to partake of liberal cheer beneath the Washington marquee, and would then "call out" gentlemen from various sections of the Union, giving, as his own contribution to the "feast of reason," interesting reminiscences of his childhood at Mount Vernon. He would always bring forward his project (which may be found in the National Intelligencer of November 24, 1810) of establishing a national agricultural organization, to be incorporated by the government, and attached to a national university. It was published in pamphlet form.

THE COLUMBIA AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

In 1809 a number of gentlemen interested in agriculture, residing in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, after several meetings, carefully organized the Columbian Agricultural Society. As the germ of a national organization, embracing different States, and as the initiative of agricultural exhibitions, now one of our national institutions, this society's operations are entitled to an honorable record. The National Intelligencer, in publishing its first premium list, said: "Attaching the highest importance to the active development of our internal resources, and convinced that they are the mainspring of the permanent prosperity of the United States, it is with unfeigned pleasure that we insert a statement of the plan and measures of an association whose respectability, zeal, and intelligence are the best pledges for its utility."

The first exhibition of the Columbian Agricultural Society was held at the

Union Hotel, Georgetown, on the 10th of May. It was (said the National Intelligencer of the following Friday) "attended by a numerous assemblage of members of the society, among whom we noticed the President and his lady, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, the Comptroller, Register, &c., and many other ladies and gentlemen of respectability. This is the first exhibition held by the society, which bids fair to exceed anything of the kind in the United States, and promises to be of great utility in the promotion of the agricultural arts, and particularly of the domestic manufactures of cotton, wool, and flax, by exciting a competition which cannot but be productive of good effects.

"There were exhibited a great number of sheep of the best breeds, among which were several half and three-quarter breed merinoes. At half past eleven o'clock the room for the exhibition of domestic fabrics was thrown open, when many specimens were displayed highly honorable to the industry and ingenuity of those who produced them, and gratifying to those who have at heart the cultivation of the resources of the country. Some specimens of diaper, bed-ticking, and cotton-bagging were particularly adinired as equal to any imported. The result of the day was highly pleasing to all concerned; and the auspicions commencement of this patriotic institution furnishes another, in addition to the many evidences already existing, of the public spirit of the District."

A venerable gentleman who was present described the scene to the writer of this paper as one of great interest, the more especially as nearly every person present wore clothing of domestic manufacture. President Madison sported his inauguration suit, the coat made from the merino wool of Colonel Humphreys' flock, and the waistcoat and small-clothes made from the wool of the Livingston flock at Clermont. General John Mason, then United States Indian agent, wore a suit of nankeen, made from nankeen cotton raised on Analostan island. The sheep were arranged in pens in the large yards of the hotel, (under the direction of Mr. Crawford,) and there were also several fine horses on exhibition, among them Dr. Thornton's "Carlo." This was a large, brown bay horse, (imported by Robert Waln, who had been a member of Congress from Philadelphia,) with a pedigree reaching back thirteen generations to the Layton Arabian mare, and enriched by crosses with the best stock in England. My informant recollected distinctly the admiration expressed by Mr. Madison after examining the horses and sheep.

The secretary's official report states that the committee on sheep were: Henry Maynadier and Brice J. Worthington, of Anne Arundel county, Maryland; William Hall, of Prince George's county, Maryland; George Graham, of Fairfax county, Virginia; and Jolin Cooke, of Stafford county, Virginia. The first premium of one hundred dollars was awarded to Solomon Cassidy, of Alexandria county, District of Columbia, for his lamb, weighing, unshorn and unwashed, 53 pounds 5 ounces, the fleece weighing 4 pounds 13 ounces. The second premium of eighty dollars was awarded to John C. Scott, of Strawberry Vale, Fairfax county, Virginia, for his lamb, weighing, unshorn and washed, 83 pounds, the fleece weighing 3 pounds 14 ounces. The third premium of sixty dollars was awarded to William Marbury, of Blue Plains, Washington county, District of Columbia, for his lamb, unshorn and unwashed, weighing 135 pounds 8 ounces, the fleece weighing 6 pounds 12 ounces. These and the other sheep exhibited were shorn before the committee; and a premium was awarded to Mr. Edward Eno for shearing a sheep in the neatest, safest, and most expeditious maner. Two merino rams were exhibited, sired by "Don Pedro," owned by Mr. Dupont, of Wilmington.

The committee on domestic manufactures were: William Marbury and John Cox, of Washington, District of Columbia; William A. Dangerfield, of Alexandria county, District of Columbia; Gerard Brooke, of Montgomery county, Maryland; and Joseph Cross, of Prince George's county, Maryland. The

premiums were awarded about equally to competitors.from Maryland and Virginia.

The proceedings of the next semi-annual meeting of the standing committee (which were published in the National Intelligencer) show that the idea of having sales of articles exhibited at a cattle show was then first announced, viz: "And to afford still further encouragement to farmers and manufacturers, it was resolved that all those who may have for sale cattle, sheep, or any articles of domestic manufacture, be invited to bring them to the exhibition; that convenient opportunity be afforded to exhibit them to public notice; that stands, prope enclosures, and other accommodations be provided for them, and those who choose it have the benefit of a public auction on the evening of the exhibition, and on the succeeding day at an early hour, it being understood that the auctioneer be paid by the seller a moderate percentage on the amount of all articles actually sold, and that the owners be at the expense of provender and attendance of their cattle and sheep."

The second exhibition was held in what was then known as Parrott's Grove, near the present Boyce estate, on the heights of Georgetown. The National Intelligencer of November 22 says of it: "The second semi-annual exhibition of the Columbian Agricultural Society was held at Georgetown yesterday. A large concourse of members and visitors, with their ladies and families, were present. Among the visitors were the President and family, the Postmaster General, the Treasurer, the Auditor, the Russian minister, mayor, Mr. Barlow, Mr. Irving, and many other ladies and gentlemen of respectability. Owing to the late inclemency of the season, but few cattle were exhibited; but to compensate for this deficiency, there was a great quantity of cotton and woollen domestic fabrics, comprehending much good cloth, blanketing, carpeting, hosiery, &c. The blanketing appeared to be most admired, though much praise was given to several pieces of cloth and carpeting." The following full list of premiums was published in the Agricultural Museum:

"Premium 1.-Sixty dollars for the best bull, to George Calvert, esq., Prince George's county, Maryland.

"Premium 2.-Sixty dollars for the best cow, with her first calf, to Osborne Spriggs, esq., Prince George's county, Maryland.

"Premium 3.-Ffty dollars for the best fat bullock, or spayed heifer for beef, to William Steinberger, esq., of Shenandoah county, Virginia. He was killed the next day at the slaughter-house of Mr. Krouse. He was six years old, and weighed as follows: Beef, 1,402 pounds; hide, 123 pounds; tallow, 190 pounds— making 1,715 pounds; head, 50 pounds; feet, 25 pounds; liver, 48 poundsmaking 129 pounds; blood, 87 pounds, entrails, 273 pounds; wastage, 50 pounds-making 410 pounds. Weight of carcass as on foot, 2,254 pounds.

"Premium 4.-Forty dollars for the best piece of fulled and dressed woollen cloth, to Mrs. Ann M. Mason, of Analostan island, Washington county, District of Columbia.

"Premium 5.-Thirty dollars for the best piece of woollen kerseymere, to Mr. George M. Conradt, of Fredericktown, Maryland.

"Premium 6.-Thirty dollars for the best piece of cloth cotton warp, filled with wool, to show the wool on one side, to George M. Conradt, Fredericktown, Maryland.

"Premium 7.-Thirty dollars for the best piece of fancy patterns for vests, of wool and cotton, to Mrs. Martha P. Graham, of Dumfries, Prince William county, Virginia.

"Premium 8.-Thirty dollars for the best piece of flannel, all wool, to Mrs. Sarah McCarty Mason, of Hollin Hall, Fairfax county, Virginia.

"Premium 9.-Twenty dollars for the best piece of flannel, part cotton, part wool, to Mr. George M. Conradt, of Fredericktown, Maryland.