59 



PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AT MARYPORT. 



By J. B. BAILEY. 



{Read October 21th, 1 885 J 



For many reasons I should have preferred that some one more 

 worthy than myself had filled the Presidential chair this year. 

 But, as it has fallen to my lot, I shall endeavour to fill it to the 

 best of my abihty, feeling certain that any shortcomings on my 

 part will not be attributed by you to any want of loyalty to the 

 Association. 



Many ways appeared by which a suitable address might have 

 been given ; but the same circumstances which have conspired to 

 place me in this honourable position, have likewise, in a great 

 measure, selected the subject for the present address. 



As members of a Literary and Scientific Society, we have been 

 accustomed almost to look upon our Association as an isolated 

 one, unbound by any ties ; but such is not the case, as we are one 

 of the members of a widely-spread organization. Many points in 

 this union ot societies are very imperfectly known, which, were 

 they better known, might lead to a more keen appreciation of the 

 advantages we possess, not only as a local association, but also as 

 a member — and that one of the oldest members — of the "Cumber- 

 land and Westmorland Association for the Advancement of Litera- 

 ture and Science." 



It is then my object to show, as briefly as possible, the rise 

 and progress of our local Association ; tracing out its various 

 connections, and showing the advantages to be derived thereby ; 



