136 Transactions. 
Providence diffuses amongst us the blessing of plenty. And it 
may be observed, as suggesting another agreeable reflection, that 
this seminary reckons among the contributors to the present 
undertaking many of ‘her own sons, into whose opening minds 
she instilled the principles of useful knowledge, and whose 
breasts she inspired with the love of virtue, and all those liberal 
and manly sentiments which prepared them for filling their 
various situations in society with such credit as distinguishes 
them among their contemporaries, and reflects honour on the 
place which gave them birth. The masters, we doubt not, will 
ever esteem it their first duty and their greatest pride to support 
the dignity of their profession ; and we indulge the pleasing hope 
that their scholars now standing around us, and thousands yet 
unborn, admiring the virtues and talents of those who have gone 
before them, will be stimulated to follow their example, and even, 
if possible, to excel them in every noble and worthy pursuit. I 
congratulate you, gentlemen—I congratulate the public at large 
—on the business of this day, and it is my prayer to the Supreme 
Ruler of the universe, whose blessing we should implore on all 
our designs, that he would prosper the present undertaking, and 
enable us to bring it to a happy conclusion ; that He would 
bless those patriotic and public-spirited men by whose influence 
and generous efforts it has been promoted, and continue to 
watch over the interests of our Academy, the object of whose 
institution it is 
To rear the tender thought ; 
To teach the young idea how to shoot; 
To pour the fresh instruction o’er the mind ; 
To breathe the enlivening spirit, and to fix 
The generous purpose in the glowing breast.’ 
After this address was finished a general huzza was thrice re- 
peated, and the procession returned in the same order as it came. 
The town bells rang during the procession, and the Dumfries 
Volunteers kept off the crowd. The greatest regularity was 
observed, and no accident happened during the whole business of 
the day. The gentlemen present retired to the George Inn, 
where they dined, and spent the afternoon with the greatest 
conviviality and good humour. The following is a copy of 
the inscription on the plate of brass deposited on the foundation 
stone— 
