been decided, and then became contingent upon the affirmative of that question.

How can a Society for the improvement of any portion of the citizens of our county be sustained, when the persons to be benefited value it merely as a matter of dollars and cents? when they entirely overlook its benign influence upon the business of their life, and value it only because it gives them individually an opportunity to put a penny in their pockets?

In 1840, the committee of the Society on farms, examined with much care, a large number of the most prominent farins in the county, and their report, which was elaborate and full, excited much interest, and drew forth much comment from the agricultural press.

In 1841, the transactions of this Society, and the New Haven Horticultural Society, were published together in a pamphlet of eighty-four pages, and great interest was felt throughout the county in the continued prosperity of the Society. Such publication has been since continued in different years.

This interest was kept up for several years, and the annual exhibitions have continued until within the last three years.

The amount of premiums offered was gradually increased until it amounted to some six hundred dollars per annum, and in later years, the expenses of the Society were in part defrayed by the liberal contributions of the citizens of New Haven, in aid of the general objects of the Society.

It is believed that the eminent success of this Society had a happy influence in inducing our Legislature to make the first appropriation ever known in the state in aid of agricul ture, an appropriation suggested, and urged through by one of the officers of the Society, as an act of justice to our farmers, and calculated to excite a new and extensive interest in the improvement of agriculture throughout the state. Nor was that expectation disappointed, since in the opinion of many careful observers, the small annual appropriation thus made by the state, has done more than anything else to

call into action the energies of our people, in securing such improvement in that branch of our national industry.

In this connection, it is perhaps proper to suggest, whether some arrangement should not be made whereby the amount the County Society would be entitled to receive from the state, should be paid to the State Society, when the exhibition of the County Society gives place to the State Fair.

In 1853, while an effort was in progress to get up an exhibition under the auspices of the State Society, it was deemed inexpedient to attempt an exhibition of our own here, and last year, our whole community were with one accord united in their efforts in aid of a State Fair.

Liberal subscriptions were made by our citizens, and splendid grounds belonging to the town, were obtained free of charge, and it is believed that the Fair, under the able management of the popular officers of the State Societythe first State Fair ever held in this state-was worthy the highest rank amongst those most useful and popular exhibitions in our whole land.

CHARLES ROBERTSON, Secretary.

NEW HAVEN, February 19th, 1855.

NEW LONDON

COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

THE call for an agricultural convention, signed by many of our prominent citizens, friends of progress in all branches of industry and the arts, was responded to by a large number assembled from all parts of the county, at the town hall in the city of Norwich, Wednesday, April 12th, 1854. The meeting was organized in the appointment of Horace Thurston, M. D., as Chairman, and Dr. D. F. Gulliver, as Secretary. A committee of three was then appointed, consisting of the` following gentlemen: Rev. William Clift, of Stonington, Mr. E. H. Gillette, of Colchester, and Mr. William Morgan, of Ledyard, to draft a constitution. After conferring, the committee made report in the following preamble and constitution.

PREAMBLE.

Impressed with the importance of the advantages to be derived by associated effort in carrying forward successfully every great enterprise, having for its object the improvement of the community, the Farmers, Horticulturists, Mechanics, and Manufacturers of the County of New London, have resolved to establish a society, and to be governed by the following

CONSTITUTION.

ART. I. The association shall be known by the name of the New London County Agricultural Society.

ART. II. There shall be a President, six Vice-Presidents, a Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer,

and Executive and Finance Committees, who shall be Trustees, ex officio. All officers enumerated in this article, shall continue in office until others are elected in their stead.

ART. III. All officers of the Society shall hereafter be chosen by ballot. The election shall be determined by a majority of votes.

ART. IV. The names of persons to be balloted for at the annual election, shall be contained on one ballot; and the offices for which they are respectively nominated shall be distinctly designated.

ART. V. There shall be two stated meetings of the Society, annually, viz., on the last Wednesday in March and on the last Wednesday in September; the same to be held at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, at such place as the Trustees shall appoint; of which they shall give notice in two of the newspapers published in Norwich, and in two published in New London, at least three weeks previous to the meeting.

ART. VI. There shall be, after the year 1854, an annual choice of officers, viz., at the stated meetings in March. In the choice of officers, thirteen members shall make a quorum; in the transaction of other business, seven inay make a quorum.

ART. VII. If at any meeting of the Society or of the Trustees, the President and Vice-Presidents shall be absent, the members present may appoint one from among them to preside at such meeting.

ART. VIII. The President, or in case of his absence, either of the Vice-Presidents, with the advice of the Trustees, may call a special meeting of the Society; or whenever written application, with reasons assigned therefor, shall be made by any twelve members of the Society to the President and Trustees, they shall call such meeting.

ART. IX. The meeting of the Trustees shall be held at such time and place as they shall, from time to time, agree upon; and seven of them, including the presiding member, shall make a quorum for doing business.

ART. X. The Executive Committee shall recommend such measures as they shall judge necessary and expedient; and,

in conjunction with the Trustees, shall regulate all the concerns of the Society during the intervals of its meetings; propose such objects of improvement to the attention of the public; appoint such committees, publish such communications, and offer such premiums, in such form and value as they shall think proper; provided the premiums offered do not exceed the funds of the Society; and shall lay before the Society at each of its meetings, a statement of their proceedings, and of the communications made to them.

ART. XI. No transfer by the Treasurer, of any stock, evidence of debt, or security, shall be deemed valid, unless made by the order of the Finance Committee.

ART. XII. Any person who shall subscribe to the Constitution of the Society shall be a member thereof, on paying one dollar to the Treasurer, and until he gives written notice of his intention to withdraw from the Society, shall be holden to pay one dollar at every annual meeting of the same.

ART. XIII. Any person may become a life member of the Society, by subscribing to the Constitution and paying five dollars to the Treasurer; such members to be exempt from further taxation.

ART. XIV. The Recording Secretary shall take minutes of all the votes and proceedings of the Society and of the Trustees, and enter them in separate books, and shall record all such communications as the Trustees shall direct.

ART. XV. The Corresponding Secretary shall write all letters relating to the business of the Society, and answer all letters to the Society, as the Trustees may direct.

ART. XVI. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys due or payable to the Society, and all donations that may be made to it; for which he shall give duplicate receipts, one of which shall be lodged with the Recording Secretary, and make a fair record thereof; and from time to time pay out such moneys as he shall have orders to from the Trustees, and he shall annually, and whenever thereto required, render a fair account of all his receipts and payments to the Society, or a committee thereof.

ART. XVII. A committee shall be chosen annually, to