330 THE GARDENER. [July 



before sitting down, to present to Mr Thomson. The inscription on the testi- 

 monial bears that it is presented on personal, professional, and public grounds ; 

 and in this combination of claims on the part of our guest consists undoubtedly 

 the real significance of the movement and the real value of the gift. I know how 

 irksome it must be to Mr Thomson to have these matters referred to in public, 

 and in his presence ; and therefore, in discharging the duty now assigned me, I 

 will be as brief as I possibly can. Every one present will, I am sure, expect mo 

 to refer to the unvarying courtesy and manifest desire to oblige shown by Mr 

 Thomson to parties visiting the gardens under his care, and which, with the great 

 beauty of these gardens themselves, have made them for many years the chief 

 attraction to strangers visiting Dalkeith. Equally necessary is it to acknowledge 

 the generous alacrity with which Mr Thomson has all along placed his own skill, 

 the labour of his assistants, and the treasures of the gardens, at the free service 

 of all classes of the inhabitants when assembled publicly for social enjoyment, or 

 for the promotion of any useful or benevolent undertaking. I can scarcely recall 

 a single soiree, or banquet, or distribution of prizes to volunteers, or loyal, or 

 patriotic, or benevolent public gathering, that was not more or less indebted to 

 the friendly assistance and artistic skill of our esteemed guest. An appeal to Mr 

 Thomson was included in the programme of eveiy such gathering. That appeal 

 ■was never made in vain ; and hence the removal of our friend from Dalkeith will 

 be felt as a chill and a discouragement to the social life of the community. I 

 cannot speak with the same authority of the strictly professional claims of Mr 

 Thomson, nor can that be necessary in the presence of so many skilful horticul- 

 turists. These will be readiest to acknowledge that Mr Thomson stands, and has 

 long stood, at the very head of bis profession ; that he has done incomparably 

 more for gardening in this country than any other man ; and that, while he has 

 elevated the social and scientific condition of the gardener, he has at the same 

 time, by his urbanity and helpfulness, by his recognition of practical merit and 

 his readiness to promote and reward it, won for himself in a remarkable degree 

 the esteem, confidence, and gratitude of his professional brethren. An interest- 

 ing illustration of tbis occurred a few years ago, when nine of Mr Thomson's old 

 foremen — then resident at a great distance from him and from each other — 

 joined in presenting him with a handsome and valuable testimonial, expressive of 

 the esteem and gratitude which they continued to cherish towards their former 

 chief. That proceeding, we must all feel, was highly honourable to both paities 

 — to the master, as evincing the genuine kindness of his rule ; and to the fore- 

 men, for their grateful recollection of his free and improving service. It is 

 gratifying to add that most of the names inscribed on that earlier testimonial 

 occur again in the list of subscribers to the testimonial of tbis evening — a circum- 

 stance which will no doubt enhance its value in the estimation of Mr Thomson, 

 showing, as it does, that kindly relations once establiched in Dalkeith Gardens 

 remain unaffected by change of residence and by lapse of time. It only remains, 

 in a closing sentence, to refer to those public services of our esteemed guest, of 

 which, no less than of his personal and professional merits, these testimonials 

 must be regarded as the recognition. There are few departments of public use- 

 fulness in which, during his sixteen years' residence amongst us, Mr Thomson 

 has not taken a prominent place. In all movements with a view to social or 

 sanitary improvement, to the spread of scientific education, or to the expression 

 of public sentiment on matters of benevolent, loyal, patriotic, or national interest, 

 Mr Thomson might always be counted on for warm sympathy and important 

 practical service. And hence the alacrity with which the friends who have been 

 associated with him in public labours have united with those related to him only 



