SOLON ROBINSON, 1841 225 



I very much regret that I have not the fire and energy 

 of youth, or at least the power to make myself more 

 interesting to this goodly number of my fair hearers, 

 who have complimented me by their presence here to-day. 



But permit me to assure them, that although I may be 

 lacking in the soft blandishments of a "ladies' man," I 

 am a husband and a father, and I sincerely hope I am a 

 philanthropist ; and until I forget the love and duty that 

 I owe to the former, and my anxiety to promote the 

 latter, may I never forget the pleasure that the smiles of 

 beauty have afforded me this day. 



Gentlemen, I beg you to be assured of the solemn truth 

 which used to be a guiding text of the celebrated John 

 Randolph, that, "if we were deprived of the influence of 

 female society, we should soon degenerate into a mass 

 of brutes." And in this country, where our scattered 

 population are deprived of many opportunities to enjoy 

 such society, it should be one of the leading objects of 

 this Society, to promote and foster that holy, happy 

 influence. 



You should also bring your children with you. Teach 

 them while young. Remember that early impressions 

 are almost indelible, and, therefore, be careful that what 

 they see and hear should be of the right kind. 



At the exhibitions of the stock and farming imple- 

 ments, and farm products, and household manufactures, 

 their young curiosity will be particularly excited, and 

 their minds impressed with useful things. 



In your list of premiums, you may usefully add a few, 

 particularly calculated for competition among the youths 

 of your Society. 



But above all, do not forget to be truly liberal in your 

 offers to induce a laudable competition among your wives 

 and daughters. 



I would particularly recommend that your most liberal 

 offers should tend to the encouragement of the manufac- 

 ture of household cloth, and don't let them forget that 

 they may still appear lovely in a homespun dress, of wool, 

 flax, or silk. 



