58 



you, as one of the original members, in the enjoyment of health and 

 happiness. They desire to thank you for the kind interest which you 

 have taken in the labours of the Society during the whole of that period ; 

 and they have much pleasure in stating — as a mark of respect and 

 appreciation on the part of their predecessors and themselves — that you 

 complete this Session the fourth triennial period as President of the 

 Society, On the same grounds, and with every kind wish, the present 

 members have obtained a portrait of you, by an eminent artist of the 

 town, which they now request that you will do them the favour to accept. 



They are aware, however, that in the course of a long and active life, 

 your usefulness has extended far beyond this Society, and they know 

 that many inhabitants of Liverpool, as well as casual visitors, will desire 

 to look upon this portrait in future, as well as at present. But fearing 

 that your own delicacy might prevent you from affording them that 

 gmtification, the Members of the Society venture to request that you 

 will allow it to be placed permanently in some public collection of the 

 town. 



They tmst, however, that you will long be spared, in person, to your 

 many friends, and to others who take a still deeper interest in all that 

 concerns your welfare. 



I remain, dear sir, 



Very faithfully and obediently yours, 

 (Signed) DAVID P. THOMSON, M.D. 



Royal Institution, Liverpool, 

 January 2dth, 1853. 



Mr. Yates then read the following reply, and handed it to the 

 Secretary : — 



To the Members of the Literary and Philosophical Society 

 OF Liverpool. 

 Gentlemen, 



I receive, with the most gi*ateful feelings, the testimony 

 of approbation and regard now offered on the part of the Literaiy and 

 Philosophical Society. 



To have been associated for forty years with a body so distuiguished — 

 to have been placed by them during a long portion of that time (how- 

 ever unworthily) in the chair formerly occupied by men who have filled 

 a large space in the annals of European literature — will always be 

 considered by me as the most flattering and honourable circu^istance of 

 my life. Conscious of my own deficiencies, I have endeavoiu-ed to 

 compensate for them by an ardent zeal in the promotion of those 



