INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 83 



To conscientiously further the study of botany in all use- 

 ful directions, to the extent of my ability and means, is the 

 only pledge of success that I can give. That the many 

 friends of the Shaw School of Botany may see their hopes 

 and mine realized, depends in no small degree upon their 

 own exertions. To give ua students who are prepared to 

 do good work and whose ambition is to do their best, to 

 extend the hand of encouragement when progress seems 

 slow and the way hard, and at all times to kindly criticise 

 errors of judgment and execution, is as much their duty as 

 it must be their pleasure. Above all, I would ask that ad- 

 verse criticism, leading to a loss of confidence, be not hast- 

 ily passed upon the slowness of growth that is, from the 

 nature of the case, to be expected in much of our under- 

 taking. The oak does not reach its strength and majesty 

 in a night, nor does the mushroom ever attain to the stat- 

 ure of the oak. 



At the conclusion of Professor Trelease's address, the 

 following resolution was offered for adoption by the Direct- 

 ors and Faculty of Washington University, and by the au- 

 dience assembled : — 



Resolved, That as friends of advanced education, and as 

 citizens of St. Louis, we gratefully recognize the long con- 

 tinued benefactions conferred by our fellow-citizen, Mr. 

 Henry Shaw, and especially at this time thank him most 

 heartily for his generous action in the cause of scientific 

 study and research. That he may live many years to see 

 the fruit of his labors, and that his last days may be his 

 happiest and best, is our earnest hope and prayer. 



The resolution was adopted unanimously by a standing 

 vote. 



