Massachusetts Horticultural Society. A77 



mingle in our cup of rejoicing that of grief. Since our last festival, we 

 have been called to mourn the loss of a Vice President, (Jonathan Win- 

 ship ;) also a venerable divine, (Rev. Dr. Codman,) who then implored a 

 benediction at our festive board, my own beloved pastor ; and still another 

 member, distinguished for his ability and promptness in official life, and 

 whose mirthfulness and vivacity added so much to the interest of that occa- 

 sion, (Hon. Jonathan Chapman,) and yet we mourn, in common with our 

 country, for a mightier one, John Quincy Adams, whose mortal remains, 

 on their transit to the sepulchre of his fathers, rested where we now stand. 

 I propose, to be received in silence. 



The Memory of our Departed Members. 



This was followed by a hymn written expressly for the occasion, by Mrs. 

 Sigourney, to the memory of John Quincy Adams. 



The President gave : — 



Flowers : The first and the last offering of love — Emblem of joy at the cradle, emblem of hope 

 at the grave. He is a benefactor to our hearts, who cultivates and scatters them in our path. 



Letters were received from many distinguished gentlemen, regretting 

 their inability to be present, and the following sentiments were received : — 

 From Hon. Horace Mann : — 



Horticulturists and Floriculturists : Noble men, who, by improving the most beautiful works 

 of nature, encourage us to improve ourselves. 



From Hon. George Lunt : — 



The Massachusetts Horticultural Society : 'Which gathers into one splendid and lovely show 

 the fruits and flowers, which so profusely crown the closing year ; and surrounds its festal board 

 with beauty, of which these are but the types, and eloquence, speaking to the heart and clothing 

 with many voices the otherwise inaudible silence of nature. 



From John Milton Earle, President of Worcester County Horticultural 

 Society : — 



The Massachusetts Horticultural Society : First and foremost among similar institutions in this 

 country, it can desire no higher honor, than to be judged by ita/ruits. 



The President then gave ; — 



The Press : Having lightning wires for helpers, it more than ever needs good conductors. Some 

 of the old ones are as good as new. 



The following toast was sent in by Mr. Epes Sargent, of the Evening 

 Transcript, in reply to a sentiment complimentary to the press : — 



Our Horticulturists : While the products of then- gardens evince the perfection of culture, they 

 themselves are a proof, that 



" Man is the nobler grovrth our soil supplies. 

 And souls are ripened in our northern skies." 



The next sentiment was : — 



The Ladies: The " Morning Glories " of creation, our fireside " Delights," and every day's 

 " Heart's-Ease." 



At this time the President left the hall, and Vice President French took 



the chair, and, with a few remarks, offered the following sentiment : — 



The President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society: May the remainder of his life be as 

 prosperous and happy, as his former years have been brilliant and useful to his country. 



By Cheever Newhall, Vice President : — 



3Ir. Doioning, the American Author : More fortunate than Major Jack Downing, of White- 

 house memory — bis name is associated not with the one palace, but with the thousand cottages of 



