zation of tlie National Socic-ty of Fruit Growers, now the Anu'rican IVmiuloo^ical Sooi- 

 etv, and of whidi he was elected I'resideut at its first nieetinj^ in the city of New York, 

 At its session in I'hiladelphia, September, 1852, he delivered, by appointment, a most 

 eloiiuont euloixy on the life, labors, and death of his intimate friend, Andkkw Jackson 

 l)owNiNG, the tjreat rural architect and landscape gardener of America, who perished 

 ill tlie conflagration of the steamer Henry Clay, on the 28th of the preceding July, a 

 gentleman who was an honor to his country, and was honored by her; and was dis- 

 tinguished on both sides of the Atlantic for his numerous publications and valuable 

 services. With him he had enjoyed a long, most cordial, and mature friendship; and 

 he executed the trust in a manner which secured the eommendatiou of that body and 

 of a large assembly. The closing paragraph of that production we will quote as an 

 illustration of the force of Mr. Wh.der's diction, and the beauty of his style: 



Downing is dead ! Yet how little of such men can perish! The clayey tenement may 

 indeed fall and crumble; but to hlui who dwelt in it, a [«lace is assigned in the firmament 

 of American genius, far above tlK; storms and convulsions of earth, in that clear upper sky, 

 where ho shall sliino forever to illumine tlie path of intelligence, enterprise, and virtue, and 

 henceforth to enkindle in the human mind a love of order, taste, and beauty. "We rank 

 liim with those who start improvements which advance ages after they are dead, and who 

 are justly entitled to the consideration and gratitude of mankind. Wabhington and his 

 illustrious associates are dead ; but tlie liberty which they achieved still lives and marches 

 in triumph and glory through the earth. Feanklin is dead; but the spark which his 

 miraculous wand drew from heaven speaks with tongues of fire, and electrifies the globe. 

 FuLTox is dead; but he awoke the spirit of invention which turns the machinery of man 

 — aye, he awoke also the genius of navigation — 



'And heaven inspired 

 To love of useful glory, roused mankind, 

 And in unbounded commerce mixed tlie world.' 



Downing also is dead; but the principles of artistic propriety and ornament, of rural econ- 

 omy and domestic comfort, which he revealed, await a more full and perfect development ; 

 and as they advance toward their glorious consummation, grateful millions will honor and 

 cherish his name. His memory shall lite forever. 



J»Ir. Wilder is now President of this National Society for the third biennial term. 

 At its recent meeting in Boston, September last, he delivered an address which evinced 

 a thorough acquaintance with the object it seeks to promote, and of which some account 

 has already been given to our readers. This address embodies a great amount of 

 experience, and of scientific and practical knowledge, and will richly reward those who 

 diligently study it and reduce its principles to practice. 



During its session, which continued for three days, Mr. Wilder gave a splendid 

 levee to the members of the Society; about one hundred and fifty were present, 

 including His Excellency the Governor, His Honor the Mayor, and other distinguished 

 guests. At the close of the session, Hon. Mr. Benson, M. C. from Maine, proposed 

 the following resolution : 



Resolved^ That the thanks of the Society are most cordially presented to the President, 

 Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, for the prompt, able, and impartial manner in which 

 presided over ita deliberations; and we hereby assure him that the members will 



