20 



on common ground, upon ^vhich it is difficult to inck a quarrel, be re- 

 garded as a social advantage, and as an institution upon which all good 

 men may look with favour and 's\ith hope. 



But I must stop. The subject is tempting, and one feels to be 

 warming to the work; but the "stirring up" has already approached 

 more nearly to an hour's duration than I had intended when I commenced 

 my address, and I will bring it, perhaps somewhat abruptly, to a close, 

 by thanking you for the honour you have done me in electing me as your 

 first president, and liy adding a sincere expression of my most earnest 

 hope that your Association may grow and prosper, that you may have 

 many presidents more efficient than myself, and may be able to do all the 

 good that you desire, and much more than you are bold enough to 

 expect. 



