Premiums were awarded to two very fine elegant finished grass bonnets, made by the Miss Woodhouses of Weathersfield, and which are rarely surpassed in beauty by the most costly Leghorns. One very little inferior was also exhibited, made by Miss Hanmer of the same place. They were made of the Poa Pratensis or spear grass, and those which received the premiums sold one for 27 dollars, the other 30 dollars. Another of a quality almost equal to those just mentioned was made by a young lady of Windsor, of the sweet-scented vernal grass, and one of split straw by Miss Capen of Hartford, was remarkable for its extraordinary delicacy of texture.
The linen diapers were equal to any of English fabric, and the linen shirting which obtained the premium sold for 4s. 6d. per yard. The committee would suggest to such as may hereafter be candidates for the premium on linen goods, the necessity of bleaching them, since after that process, their comparative merits can be more fairly ascertained.
The butter and cheese were excellent—the former sold for 16 cents, and a large quantity of the latter for 10 cents per pound.
Many articles were also exhibited for which no premiums were offered, yet which attracted the particular attention of the committee and the numerous spectators. Among these were some highly finished treble-gilt buttons, from the manufactory of Mr. Moses Cook. The carpeting ingeniously manufactured from bul-rushes and woollen yarn; white silk hose, white linen hose, white and coloured counterpanes; a vandyke remarkable for its softness and beauty, made from the silk that covers the seed of the milk-weed; an excellent imitation of the Scotch plaid; and some elegant paper-hangings from the manufactory of Mr. George Putnam. While the committee could not but regret that the state of our funds precluded the offering premiums for such meritorious articles, yet they were highly gratified to perceive that it is not the hope of gain alone which produces such a splendid collection of domestic manufactures, but that there exists among all classes of the community a patriotic wish to give interest to our exhibition.
Your committee cannot close their report, without congratulating you, gentlemen, and the public at large, on the brilliant prospects of our infant society.
The general superiority of the articles we this year inspected, to those offered at our former exhibition, together with that lively interest they excited in the candidates for premiums, and the thousands of spectators who assembled to witness the productions of their industry, clearly evince that domestic manufactures are rapidly gaining that importance in public estimation which they so richly deserve.
All which is respectfully submitted.
Geo. Cowles, Chairman.