10 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



labored — and we feel glad, and come here to-day in full confidence that 

 when you come to understand the difficulties under which we have 

 labored, and the success which we have attained, you will be glad to 

 have come with us, and to see that we have been enabled thus to fling 

 abroad our banner to the breeze without a single cloud or difficulty in 

 our way ; and although there may be long turns and trials, and some 

 sharp criticism, yet we are confident we are so far up the hill that the top 

 is in sight, and we shall speedily be there. And, gentlemen, you will 

 be glad of such a 



We shall welcome you, not only to the hall which you now occupy, 

 but we will welcome you to-morrow to come and witness the assembly of 

 the students of this institution, numbering some four hundred, although 

 the panic has driven some of them home — some are home by sickness — 

 but we fall not very far short of this number. You will be glad to find 

 that this is the best agricultural college — having the best agricultural 

 library — the best in its material — of any on the American continent. 

 [Applause. 



We shall welcome you to the various exercises of the University. 

 Make yourselves at home — go into our rooms — look in upon the classes 

 at their recitations — upon the boys and upon the girls. You will find 

 them good-looking, courteous, cheerful, earnest, devoted and hard at 

 work. I do not know, to-day, that they can show more at any place. 

 Then look in upon that branch established by the grant of Congress — in 

 the engineers', architects' or mechanics' departments. We shall be glad 

 to see you everywhere, and wherever you go you will be welcome, and 

 you will leave among us the fragrance that you have brought. You will 

 leave among us pleasant memories, and I trust you will carry with you 

 pleasant memories, and that you will hereafter be encouraged to do more 

 and more for the cause in which you have labored in the past. 



The President — I take a great deal of pleasure in returning the thanks 

 o the Society to Dr. Gregory for his kindness. I have no doubt that 

 you will be all pleased with your journey here, and find a great deal to 

 interest you. I will call your attention to the large experimental orchard 

 connected with the University. I look upon it with a great deal of 

 pleasure. ou can find here a great deal that will save you individual 

 labor and individual expense. / 



Dr. Gregory — I ought, at the time, to have made an apology for 

 myself, and for the young men and ladies, for having come in and gone 

 out of the room so frequently. They have come whenever they were at 



