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January 16, 1850. 

 Dr. D. H. Storer, Vice-President, in the Chair. 

 Present, forty-two members. 



Dr. Storer said that it was his melancholy duty, as pre- 

 siding officer of the meeting, to announce to the Society 

 the recent decease of Dr. Martin Gay, one of its oldest and 

 most valued members. He hoped that some gentleman 

 present would take it upon himself to express those senti- 

 ments of esteem for our late associate, and regret for his 

 loss, which must be in the hearts of all. 



Mr. Bouve responded to this call, as follows : — 



Mr. President : — I cannot, nor would I, refrain from giving 

 utterance to the feelings that move me upon the sad event which 

 has just been announced from the chair. I might well hesitate 

 to rise, in view of the many present, older and wiser than 

 myself, who would doubtless be glad to show their apprecia- 

 tion of the worth of the departed, by their well merited praises 

 of him ; but, sir, feeling that I knew him better than most who 

 shared his friendship, I am led to think I owe it to his memory 

 to say at least a few words concerning him. With Dr. Gay I 

 was indeed most intimate, and I express, therefore, what I know, 

 when I claim for him a degree of virtue, a nobleness of purpose, 

 an exaltation of character, far beyond what is generally found in 

 man. Conscientious to a great degree, every deed performed 

 by him, every judgment given, first received the sanction of the 

 highest sentiments of his soul ; and, long as I have known him, 

 1 never heard him even express an impure thought. Loving 

 God, and loving man, his desire was, to enlarge his own being 

 that he might the better serve both. Too great by nature and 

 culture to confine his regard to those of a class, or a sect, all 

 who sought his friendship, and were worthy, found in him ready 

 sympathy. The bickerings and the jealousies that trouble smaller 

 men never reached him ; but yet he was ever ready to advocate 

 manfully the cause that appeared to him just. Without guile, 

 transparent to all whose motives were kindred to his own, he 



