OF ARTS AND SCIENCES : JUNE 9, 1863. 147 



Five Iiundred and txveiity-tliird Meeting. 



June 9, 1863. — Adjourned Annual Meeting. 



The President, on taking the chair, addressed the Academy 

 as follows : — 



I cannot with justice to myself take this chair, and enter upon its 

 honorable duties, without saying that, while I defer to the will of the 

 Academy, as expressed by your suffrages, my best judgment does not 

 altogether approve the choice. I sincerely wished that your choice 

 might fall upon an older member of our society, and, so far as I prop- 

 erly could, I had used my endeavors in that behalf 



For myself, having now for seventeen years served the Academy in 

 a responsible station, I had thought that I might, at least for a time, be 

 released from active official duties here. You have decided otherwise, 

 probably tliinking more highly than they deserve of my efforts to serve 

 the Academy in a subordinate administrative office. 



It is to be feared, however, that, while relying, as you may, upon 

 my activity and unceasing interest in the Academy, you have over- 

 estimated any qualifications I can bring to this chair. Nor can you 

 reasonably expect in me the mature wisdom, and the wide general 

 knowledge, and the calm and sure judgment, which have dignified the 

 administration of a long line of illustrious Presidents, and which you 

 have seen exemplified in that of my immediate predecessor. 



Under these circumstances, while keenly alive to the responsibilities, 

 I am profoundly sensible of the honor, which you have conferred upon 

 me. I can only say that, relying both upon the considerate indul- 

 gence and the hearty co-operation of all my colleagues, I will constantly 

 endeavor, during my term of office, to discharge the duties of Pres- 

 ident with assiduity and entire impartiality, and will thus do what I 

 may to promote the harmony and maintain the honor and the efficiency 

 of this society. 



Just twenty years hence the Academy will complete its century of 

 existence. Many, perhaps very many of us, will have passed off the 

 stage before that day. But it is fairly to be expected that a large 

 majority of our younger Fellows may take part in the centenary cel- 

 ebration. Let us hope, and let us all endeavor while we may, that 

 these coming years shall be years of active usefulness, and of continued 

 and ever-increasing prosperity, to the American Academy of Arts and 

 Sciences. 



