260 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Col. Clark, President Chadbourne, Dr. Wakefield, Mr. Ware 

 of Marblehead, delegate of the Essex Agricultural Society, 

 and others, spoke eloquently in favor of the adoption of the 

 resolution. 



While the preamble and resolution were under considera- 

 tion, Col. Wilder came into the Board, when the Secretary 

 of State resigned the chair to him, upon which he gave many 

 interesting and valuable reminiscences of the past operations 

 of the Board, and expressed regret that Mr. Flint should 

 have taken advantage of his absence to submit his resigna- 

 tion, which he had strictly enjoined him not to do. Col. 

 Wilder desired to join in the expressions of gratitude to 

 Mr. Flint for his most acceptable services as Secretary of the 

 Board for this long course of years. He said he had feared 

 that Mr. Flint would tender his resignation, and had prepared 

 some resolutions to meet such an emergency ; and, as he had 

 lost the opportunity to express his feelings, he would submit 

 them now, and he was requested to do so. They were as 

 follows : — 



Resolved, That the thanks and gratitude of the Massachusetts Board 

 of Agriculture are eminently due to the Hon. Charles L. Flint, for the 

 ability and fidelity with which he has discharged the duties of secretary 

 for the last twenty-five years, in a manner alike honorable to the Com- 

 monwealth, and beneficial to its people. 



Resolved, That we tender to Mr. Flint our personal acknowledgments 

 for the courtesy and kindness which have ever characterized his intercourse 

 with the members of the Board, with the sincere desire that the remainder 

 of his days may be as happy and prosperous as the past have been honora- 

 ble and useful. 



The resolutions were added to that already submitted, and 

 all were unanimously adopted. 



The following is the statement submitted by Col. Wil- 

 der: — 



HISTORY AND PROGRESS OF THE BOARD. 



BY MARSHALL P. AVILDER. 



Gentle^ieist, — With the close of this session, the first 

 quarter of a century in the history of the Massachusetts 

 Board of Agriculture will have terminated. In view of this 



