it is my wish to submit to the consideration of the Chamber. An event for some time expected, has occurred unexpectedly. The people for once have been taken by surprise; and, what is more surprising, the people own it. Often before had the hearts of men been stirred at the announcement of some brilliant feat of arms, of some great victory on the land or on the sea; of some new discovery in science; but never since the time when COLUMBUS, after long years of scourging vicissitudes, during which he maintained a placid faith, amid the turmoil of waters, and despite the doubts of mutinous crews, astonished the Old with the revelation of a New Worldnever, sir, since that great event, has aught occurred to bring out such a universal burst of enthusiasm. All at once, at an instant of time, two great continents have received an articulating tongue which shall henceforth speak, with equal ease, every language known to civilized man. Like the vivid flash of lightning, it has come upon the world, with the lightning's unmistakable brightness, and more than its transient brilliancy. With one simultaneous burst of applause, it has been hailed throughout our vast country. Every where the electrician's fire has touched the doubting or faintly hoping heart of man, and filled it with unbounded and enthusiastic delight. Sir, we hail this as a commercial enterprise, carried into effect, more than for any other purpose, to answer the demand of a growing Commerce, guided by the light of advancing civilization. Science has responded successfully and promptly to the large draft that has been made upon her. We meet here now in our own way to celebrate her triumph. We meet here to do honor to men who, through ceaseless vigilance and through sleepless nights, watched over the delivery of this child of Science and of Commerce, born of the Agamemnon and Niagara, who committed it to the bosom of the ocean, and in due time laid it down in its bed, to enjoy, as we would fain hope, an everlasting repose. There, sir, may it remain, the never-ending wonder of man, till its great American mother, of God's own direct creation, shall cease to pour down its flood of

waters.

I will read you the resolutions:

Resolved, That the Chamber of Commerce of the State of NewYork regards the successful laying of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable, from Valentia Bay in Ireland to Trinity Bay in Newfoundland, as the great event of the age, interesting in the highest degree to the whole human family, reflecting honor on its projectors, and those who have been instrumental in mastering the difficulties incident to the undertaking, and, as a scientific achievement, justly commanding the wonder and admiration of the world.

Resolved, That this Chamber recognises, in the new connection of the two continents, another bond of union, by means of which two kindred nations of the world are brought into nearer alliance.

Resolved, That in this successful enterprise, commerce has given to the man of science the practical solution of his problem, as it will

aid Christianity's best development, by making peace and concord the common interest of all nations.

Resolved, That, because of the seemingly insurmountable difficulty of binding together by an unbroken chain the Old World and the New; because of the care, toil, and deep anxiety involved in the effort, and of the final triumph, this Chamber would accord its meed of honor to Captain HUDSON and the officers of the Niagara, to Messrs. EVERETT and WOODHOUSE, of the Engineer department, to Captains PREEDY and DAYMAN, of the Agamemnon and Gorgon, and all who co-operated on the part of Great Britain, and to CYRUS W. FIELD, Esq., who has been the means of bringing into successful combination the money of the capitalist, the science and skill of the electrician, and the indomitable perseverance of the sailor.

Resolved, That this Chamber joins in the universal ascription of praise to the Great Being, who watches over the destinies of nations, and who has been pleased, in his All-Wise Providence, to permit this new achievement of science and human enterprise, this new victory of faith over doubt and unbelief.

Resolved, That a committee of nineteen be appointed to consider and report upon the proper testimonials to be presented to Captain HUDSON and the officers and engineers of the Niagara, and such other measures as may be deemed proper.

Resolved, That this Chamber regards with peculiar satisfaction the cordial co-operation of the British and American Navies in this grand international enterprise, and would express the hope that as long as the world endures, the only strife between the two great nations may be in the performance of acts of harmony and good will aiming at the welfare of both.

These resolutions were unanimously adopted.

The Chairman then appointed, as the Committee to carry out the object of the resolutions, Messrs. J. C. GREEN, A. A. Low, W. B. ASTOR, JOHN A. STEVENS, WILSON G. HUNT, LLOYD ASPINWALL, R. C. GOODHUE, J. D. JONES, J. E. SOUTHWORTH, С. H. MARSHALL, J. H. BROWER, S. D. BABCOCK, JAS. LEE, F. A. CONKLING, W. B. DUNCAN, A. C. RICHARDS, J. DE PEYSTER OGDEN, F. S. LATHROP and G. W. BLUNT.

On motion, the President's name was added to the Committee.

At a special meeting, held September 9, the first appointment was made of a Standing Executive Committee, provided for in the amended By-Laws, adopted at the July meeting. The names to constitute this committee, in addition to the officers ex officio, were the following: Messrs. R. B. MINTURN, H. W. BARSTOW, F. A. CONKLING, W. S. GRIFFITH, JOHN D. JONES, F. S. LATHROP, M. LEFFERTS, C. H. MARSHALL, J. D. P. OGDEN and W. K. STRONG.

Messrs. ROYAL PHELPS, N. L. MCCREADY and W. A. BAYLEY

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were deputed to confer with the Mayor of the City in regard to the existing exorbitant charges made upon vessels by the Quarantine authorities.

In September, the Chamber remonstrated to the PostmasterGeneral against the purchase of the Broadway Theatre for the City Post-office.

At the regular meeting, held November 4, the Hon. JAMES GUTHRIE, formerly Secretary of the Treasury, was introduced to the Chamber by Mr. P. M. WETMORE, and made some observations in regard to the relations of Commerce with the Department of the Treasury, for which thanks were voted.

At a special meeting, on 11th of November, a protracted discussion was held in relation to the continuance of the reciprocity treaty with Canada. On motion of Mr. ROYAL PHELPS, the recommendation in favor of the treaty was adopted.

At the December meeting a resolution was adopted, on motion of Mr. C. BARSTOW, urging upon the legislature the importance of an early enlargement of the canals of this State, and a memorial was subsequently transmitted to Albany.

Mr. P. M. WETMORE remarked upon the number and importance of the treaties recently negotiated with foreign nations, and introduced resolutions complimentary to Mr. TOWNSEND HARRIS, formerly a member of this body, for the diplomatic skill and ability he had shown in the negotiation of a commercial treaty with the government of Japan. The resolutions were unanimously adopted, and ordered to be transmitted to Mr. HARRIS.

At the meeting, held January 6th, 1859, at Clinton Hall, the Chamber took affirmative action on the proposed law concerning "collisions of vessels at sea."

At the regular meeting, February 3d, further action was taken on the question of repeal of the Usury Laws, and a memorial to the legislature was adopted, declaring as a principle:

"That this Chamber regards with increasing interest the impor tance and great need of removing all unnecessary restraints upon the natural and healthful flow of our banking currency."

In March, Mr. R. B. MINTURN submitted, and the Chamber adopted, a memorial to the legislature, setting forth at length the existing evils in the management of Quarantine, as injuriously affecting the interests of commerce, and recommending "that the connection of the Commissioners of Emigration with the Quarantine be dissolved; and also that the Health Officer, and other officials of Quarantine,

be compensated by a fixed salary, and that all fees now received by them be abolished."

The Chamber took action, in March, in regard to the proposed closing of the duties of Commissioners of Pilots, in protecting the Harbor of New-York against encroachments.

Mr. Low submitted a series of resolutions, embracing the following:

Resolved, That the legislature be earnestly requested to review the action already taken, and, by making the necessary appropriation, to continue the powers and duties of the Commissioners in enforcing the wise and necessary regulations which now exist, and the enforcement of which has already saved the State hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Resolved, That the active services of the Pilot Commissioners, in enforcing these regulations, as evidenced by the results already produced, entitle them to the thanks of all interested in the commerce of this port, and in the preservation of our harbor.

Much of the attention of the Chamber at this period was given to the question of obtaining from the City Government a grant of land on the Battery, for the establishment of a "National Time and Weather Observatory." As success did not attend this movement, it is not necessary to allude further to the able memorials and resolutions adopted by the Chamber, in regard to a subject which it deemed of great public importance.

At this time, a valuable donation of Historical works, comprising forty-two volumes of the Annals of Congress, and nine volumes of American Archives, was received from the State Department at Washington, and thanks were voted to Hon. JoHN COCHRANE for his exertions and influence in procuring the gift.

At the annual meeting in May, on motion of Mr. ROYAL PHELPs, first Vice-President, seconded by Mr. A. A. Low, second Vice-President, Mr. PELATIAH PERIT, the President, was unanimously re-elected. The Vice-Presidents were thereupon unanimously re-elected. Mr. AUGUSTUS E. SILLIMAN was re-elected Treasurer, and Mr. I. SMITH HOMANS was re-elected Corresponding Secretary.

Mr. WILLIAM NELSON, from a select committee appointed to attend the Quarantine and Sanitary Convention recently held in this city, made a verbal report of the transactions of that body.

Mr. P. M. WETMORE, in connection with the same subject, read the following resolution, which had been adopted by that convention:

"Resolved, That in the absence of any evidence establishing the conclusion, that yellow fever has ever been conveyed by one person to another, it is the opinion of this convention that personal Quarantine cases of yellow fever may be safely abolished, provided that fometies of every kind be rigidly restricted."

A committee was thereupon constituted, on motion of Mr. WETMORE, to consider and report upon the general subject of the Quarantine laws of this State, and upon the legislation required to give practical effect to the declared sentiments of the convention.

The committee was named as follows: Messrs. THOMAS TILESTON, Chairman, P. M. WETMORE, WILLIAM NELSON, F. M. FRENCH, C. H. MARSHALL, F. A. CONKLING and GEORGE OPDYKE.

Mr. BARSTOW made a final report of the refusal of the legislature to adopt measures for the repeal or modification of the Usury laws. At a special meeting, held on the 29th of June, Mr. TILESTON presented a written report, signed by all the members of the select committee, on the subject of Quarantine and public Health, and submitted resolutions which, after a full discussion, were deferred for final action to the next meeting.

Under this date, the first notice appears on the minutes, of the commencement of a series which has since continued at each succeeding year, of the preparation of an annual report, containing the proceedings of the body, and accompanied by much valuable infor mation in the shape of reports, documents and tables. It is to be hoped that so useful and interesting a practice may never be intermitted.

Mr. WETMORE, by unanimous consent, offered a resolution, which was adopted, authorizing the publication of the annual report of transactions during the year 1858-9, and providing that a copy be delivered to each member.

At the stated meeting, July 7, the report of the Select Committee on Quarantine was called up for further consideration. The report and resolutions were concurred in by the Chamber. The following are the resolutions, which are copied here as showing the sense of this body on one of the most important questions affecting the welfare of commerce at this port:

I. Resolved, As the sense of the Chamber of Commerce, that the Quarantine regulations of this port, so far as they concern the preservation of health and life, may safely be modified; and that, so far as the interests of commerce are involved, ought to be modified and amended in the following particulars, viz. :

1. To provide for the free egress of passengers and crews from