REPORT.

THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, appointed by the MASSACHUSETTS CHARITABLE MECHANIC ASSOCIATION, to superintend their First Exhibition and Fair, beg leave to submit the following Report to the Association :

Much interest having been excited among many members of the Association, in consequence of the beneficial effects known to have been produced by Mechanic Exhibitions and Fairs in neighboring cities, the following order was passed at a meeting held September 22d, 1836.

"Voted, That a Committee be appointed to enquire and report on the expediency of establishing in this city, an Annual Exhibition and Fair for the encouragement of Manufactures and the Mechanic Arts, and the awarding of Premiums."

The Committee having been appointed, after due examination and frequent consultations, concluded in favor of the measure; and their Report was presented on the 5th of January, 1837, as follows:

"The Special Committee, appointed at the last quarterly meeting of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, to 'inquire into the expediency of establishing an Annual Fair in Boston-under the direction of the Association-and of awarding premiums,' &c., have attended to the duty assigned them, and beg leave to report, as they do unanimously, IN favour

OF THE PROJECT UNDER CONSIDERATION.

"The attention of your Committee has been directed to Philadelphia and New-York, where, for many years past, Fairs have been held annually, with the greatest success-affording not only very general satisfaction to the intelligent and enterprising communities of those cities, and all others who have witnessed them, but a source of considerable profit to the Societies by which they were introduced to the notice and patronage of the public.

"The Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, your Committee learn, has for a long period added two or three thousand dollars to its funds annually, by a fair; and the same remark will apply to the American Institute of New York. At the ninth Annual Fair of the latter, which was held in October last, the receipts were nearly seven thousand dollars, and the expenses about

half that sum. The number of articles exhibited was over 12,000, and it is believed that 70,000, people—including the families of the members of the Institute, who were admitted gratis-visited this Fair. It was open ten days and afforded a most interesting, delightful, thrilling sight. Two of your committee were present at this Fair-examined it with great attention for the best part of three days, and in their opinion there is nothing to prevent the mechanics of Boston from getting up an exhibition that shall equal it— brilliant and interesting as it was-in every point of view.

"Your committee are strongly impressed with the importance of exhibitions of this nature, where native talent is drawn forth-the first opening bud or genius indicated, and encouraged. They enable mechanics to become better acquainted with each other, and make them-what they always should bea band of brothers, all striving by honorable competition to excel each other in their respective works. In an especial manner do they make mechanics and their products better known to the public, to whom they are beholden for patronage and encouragement. Your committee contend that it is for the interest of every individual of this Association, in dollars and cents, to establish and encourage an Annual Fair in Boston. Why are many of our mechanics, artisans and manufacturers, compelled to send their productions to New York and Philadelphia for exhibition? It is because competition is there encouraged, and superiority rewarded, by premiums, and diplomas, while at home they are afforded no encouragement in this way. Our Association numbers between 6 and 700 members, embracing mechanics of every profession-many of them of great wealth, and of a high order of talent. There is wealth enough; power enough, physical and intellectual; ingenuity enough—to plan, arrange, open and present to the public an Exhibition that will rival-and may we not hope, if spiritedly commenced, excel-any former display of the kind in this country! All we require is a little of that ENTERPRIZE for which the good people of Boston have so long and so justly been celebrated. We are confident the public will sustain us, if we but assume the responsibility of offering premiums. Unless the experience of New York and Philadelphia is fallacious, whatever may be taken from the funds of the Association will be more than repaid by the sale of tickets on the days of exhibition. If properly and liberally commenced, your committee predict that the project under consideration cannot fail of success, surrounded as we are by a dense mechanical and manufacturing population.

"It has been spoken of as a reproach to New England-and Boston has had her share of the censure that nothing has been done by her leading men to indicate the pride we all profess for Yankee ingenuity and skill, two qualities of which we are very tenacious, and of which we are always ready to boast. Let us do something to wipe away this reproach. Fairs, whereever they are exhibited, attract thousands of admiring spectators; and it cannot be doubted that the whole country is sensibly benefitted by the concentration of inventive talent and mechanical skill annually found at them, Let us make one experiment, at least; and the day of the Fair, your committee predict, will be a proud one for Boston and her Mechanics.

"Judge Baldwin of Pennsylvania, whose name is identified with the great manufacturing interests of our country, and whose early exertions in favor

of 'HOME INDUSTRY,' by affording it a just and reasonable protection from foreign competition, will long be remembered by the great body of American mechanics, thus speaks of Fairs and their beneficial consequences, in an address which he delivered before the New York American Institute a few years since. It affords the committee great pleasure to be able to quote language so forcible-so pertinent to the occasion-from a source that all will consider highly respectable, and deserving of their respectful considera

tion:

'Fairs are interesting as an exhibition of the products of human labor, in those arts which are alike indispensable to private comfort and national prosperity. The experience of all nations, which have held them, has, through all time, attested their good effects, in the incentives which public admiration never fails to excite in the artisan and mechanic, to renewed zeal, and to stretch every faculty of his mind and body to their utmost capacity, in the fabrication of what gives pleasure to every one, and profit to himself.

The premiums distributed are, to the successful competitor, the public testimonials that be has made some useful contribution to the common stock, worthy of the token of public gratitude earned by his labor and skill.

'The effects of a display and public exhibition of the various specimens of the articles of consumption, in the wide circle of society, promote that competition between the fabricator and seller which never fails to benefit the consumer and purchaser.

"To the young mechanic. who desires to avail himself of improvements in the practical sciences, or mechanical arts, they are the sources of profit and instruction, in taking from the labor of others, to his own appropriate occupation, the means of usefulness to the public and his own interest.

'Mere spectators admire them as a splendid pageant, which captivates the eye by the brilliant effect of an exhibition in one view of the numerous and choicest productions of the useful and ornamental arts; presenting in the aggregate a condensed display of the fruits of the native industry and skill of our countrymen and women, at the fireside, in the workshop, or the manufactory; exemplifying the wants of society, with their means of supply from domestic sources.

They view with equal admiration its component items in detail, whether formed by the bands of the man, the child, or the woman, by the machinery of a cambric needle, or the mighty power of the steam engine, conducted by the science of the engineer and the labor of the hardy fireman; the materials of its composition, the skill with which they have been fabricated, the combined effect of both, in beauty of appearance, and substantial value for utility or ornament, equally strike the view, and impress the mind with pleasure.

'Fairs are also the practical illustrations of the operations of government, the nature of its institutions, and the course of legislation upon those interests which have been the favored objects of its guardianship; testing their adaptation to the products of the soil, and the inclination of the people, in the results of labor and the material afforded.

They are also epochs which denote the state of the arts, and the nation, at the different periods of its history; affording authentic historical facts recorded in its annals, handed down by tradition, or evidenced by some relic of former times, preserved to show how their ancestors lived, and the relative condition of the country during the lapse of time.

And as every nation in the civilized world has some rival in the arts, institutions of government, and systems of policy, each is emulous to excel the other, and to make the most favorable display of its resources, so as to impress upon all who witness them their wisdom and successful results. All these considerations combine to give to the Fairs and Exhibitions of the products of labor and skill a high degree of interest, pleasure and utility.'

With the truth and importance of the remarks of Judge Baldwin, in the extracts here given, your committee are fully impressed; and they would therefore recommend that the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Associa

tion hold a Fair in the fall of 1837, in some central and convenient place in the city of Boston; that the Government, with twelve additional members, to be added from the Association at large, constitute a committee, with full power to make the necessary arrangements for the same; that there be appointed such sums of money as may be required to defray the necessary expenses-and to pay for premiums and diplomas to be awarded for the best specimens of American ingenuity and skill, in every branch of mechanics; rare and valuable domestic productions, natural and artificial; labor saving machines, implements of husbandry, and models of machinery, in all their variety-and for superior workmanship in all useful and ornamental branches of the arts, including the beautiful and delicate handiof females in every department of industry.

"Your Committee are unanimously of the opinion, that an Annual Fair may be established in the metropolis of New England, which shall excite as much successful and honorable competition as exists in New York, Philadelphia, and other cities-be an honor to our Association—a pride to our city— worthy the patronage of a liberal and discriminating public-and a permanent benefit to the whole body of the mechanics of Boston. The members of our Association alone have the power to make a brilliant and glorious display, by the products of their own workshops; but in addition to their own efforts, hundreds, nay thousands, of the ingenious minds and industrious hands of the daughters and sons of New England, will contribute liberally to increase the interest and value of the exhibition.

All which is respectfully submitted.

STEPHEN FAIRBANKS,

JOHN RAYNER,

JOS. T. BUCKINGHAM,

JAMES CLARK,

JAMES L. HOMER,

HENRY W. DUTTON.

COMMITTEE."

This Report was printed and distributed; and, on the 19th of January, it was unanimously accepted; and the sum of five thousand dollars was appropriated to pay the necessary expenses. The Government-consisting of thirteen members,-with twelve members to be added by the Government, were constituted a Board of Managers -with power to increase their numbers-to carry into effect the intent of the Association.

January 26th, 1837, the Board held their first meeting and adopted a plan of organization, the result of which may be seen in the list hereto annexed, comprising the names of the various Committees. A circular was prepared and distributed, inviting contributions, and stating the requisite Rules and Regulations, as follows:

"(CIRCULAR.)

Boston, February 24, 1837.

"The First Annual Fair and Exhibition for Premiums of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, will be held in this city in September next, commencing on Monday, the 18th; and we take the liberty to call your attention to the rules and regulations which have been adopted by the Board of Managers. The Association has, by an unanimous vote, appropriated the sum of five thousand dollars, to enable the Managers to conduct the Fair upon a scale of liberality worthy the character of our city; and they promise that no exertions shall be wanting on their part, to render satisfaction to all who may feel disposed to offer articles for exhibition.

"Medals or Diplomas will be awarded to the owners of all articles that may be deemed worthy of such distinction; and the Managers intend that the strictest impartiality and fairness shall be observed in the distribution of Premiums.

"The Managers cannot but hope that the experiment about to be made, of holding an Annual Fair in Boston, will be crowned with success, and give very general satisfaction. They invite your attention to the subject, and trust that you will not only contribute towards the exhibition yourself, but induce such of your friends to enter the field of competition as are especially interested in the success of Manufactures and the Mechanic Arts.

"Fairs similar to that contemplated by the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, have been eminently successful in New York and Philadelphia, and their advantages have been extensively felt by the Mechanics, Artisans, and Manufacturers of our whole country. It is believed that a Fair held in the capital of Massachusetts, in the very heart of New England,' and in the midst of innumerable manufacturing establishments, will be equally successful, popular, and advantageous. Let the experiment have a fair trial, and we have no fears for the result. To adopt the language used on another occasion-' we have wealth enough; power enough, physical and intellectual; ingenuity enough to plan, arrange, open, and present to the public, an Exhibitition that will, we trust, equal any former display of the kind in this country.'

"We again respectfully call your attention to the rules and regulations, the names of the different committees, &c. The Managers, in furtherance of the object they have in view, invite contributions of articles from every department of industry-of choice specimens of American ingenuity and skill -rare and valuable domestic productions, natural or artificial-the delicate and beautiful handiwork of females-useful labor saving machines, implements of husbandry, and new models for machinery, in all their varieties.

"Rules and Regulations to be observed at the First Annual Fair and Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, to be held in Boston, commencing September 18, 1837.

1.-Articles intended for Exhibition, must be delivered on or before Wednesday, September 13th.