PROCEEDINGS FOR 1899 XXXV 



" The expression of regret with which we take leave of Your Excel- 

 lencies is not a mere formal utterance on the departure of distinguished 

 persons connected for some years with the official and social life of this 

 country, but is such an exhibition of emotion as we would give when one 

 of us parts frbm those that are dear 'and near to us. It is pleasant, how- 

 ever, to feel that, while His Excellency is to sever the official ties that 

 have bound him to this Dominion, his personal interest in it will remain 

 as strong "as ever. The extensive domain which he owns in the rich 

 province washed by the Pacific waves, now connects the name of Aber- 

 deen as closely with Canada as does stately Haddo House with the famoTis 

 Scottish shire which has given more than one title to the eminent family 

 of which His Excellency is now the honoured head. But higher than all 

 considerations of territorial or pecuniary interest, is the love which, we 

 all feel, has grown up in the hearts of Your Excellencies for this country 

 and its people, — a love which will always force you both to take the 

 liveliest interest in the fortunes of this young nation — to sympathize 

 with its adversity and trials, and rejoice with its prosperity and success." 



LOED ABERDEEN'S REPLY. 



His Excellency, in replying, expressed the great pleasure which he 

 and Lady Aberdeen experienced at being made the recipient of so flatter- 

 ing an address, couched in such graceful language and which deserved 

 the highest consideration from the fact that it came from so distin- 

 guished and so representative a body as the Royal Society of Canada. 

 As for the address itself, he designated it as " nothing less than a store 

 house of delightful artistic design and pictori'al art," and assured his 

 hearers that it would not only be a cherished possession of Lady Aber- 

 deen and himself, but would " form a lasting and delightful souvenir " 

 for them and their children "and friends for many a long day. Referring 

 to the society itself, he made allusion to the prominent position it occu- 

 pied, and the good work it was doing and referred to the great interest 

 shown in it by his predecessors. Lord Lome, Lord Lansdowne and the 

 Earl of Derby, and 'assured his hearers that it would always occupy a veiy 

 warm comer in his own heart. Continuing, His Excellency siaid, "Nature 

 has not endowed me with a very pachydermatous external covering in 

 m^atters of this sort — (laughter) — therefore, I must be careful and not try 

 to express too fully the feeling prompted at the present time. Among 

 the many special points and features of which you have said you can 

 easily believe that the reference to Lady Aberdeen (who in la very full 

 sense is the joint recipient of this address) you can, I say, easily believe 

 that these words of kind good-will, confidence, encouragement and 



