It  is  a  peculiarity  of  these  associations  that  they  have  no  costly
buildings  appropriated  to  their  action.  This  is  emphatically  true
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  which  assembles  in  various  places,
and  at  somewhat  irregular  times;  truly  utilitarian  in  this  respect,
that  it  comes  together  whenever  there  is  something  to  be  done,
and  depends  upon  the  wisdom  of  its  council  rather  than  the  sanc-
tity of  the  place  from  whence  it  may  emanate.
The  union  of  views  of  practical  useAilness,  and  an  enlarged
spirit  of  inquiry,  characterized  the  proceedings  of  the  Chamber
of  Commerce  of  the  State  of  New-Tork  from  its  earliest  organi-
zation, in  1768.
Questions  in  regard  to  currency  and  the  value  of  gold  and
silver  coins  claimed  its  attention  as  early  as  1769,  and  in  the
minutes  of  proceedings  for  November  of  that  year,  is  recorded
the  reply  of  the  astronomer,  Rittenhouse,  and  John  Montresor,  to
the  request  of  President  Cruger  for  a  determination  of  the  lati-
tude of  the  Battery.
