116 PROCEEDINGS. 



Gentlemen, — May a kind Providence bless you in your persons, in your families, and in 

 all your laudable efforts to extend the usefulness, and to increase the resources, of this 

 institution ; and may he, who is now to occupy this chair, prove more worthy of the confi- 

 dence and respect, you have so liberally bestowed upon me. 



To which Mr. Walker replied : — 



Gentlemen of the Society — 



The very kind manner in which my friend. Col. Wilder, has introduced me, and his 

 determination, if it were possible, to lay me under further obligations, by his courtesy, 

 and his avowed approbation of my past services, happily afford me an opportunity to 

 state how much I value his friendship — the pleasure it has given me to serve the Society, 

 under his administration, and to tender you. Gentlemen, my thanks, for the honor you have 

 conferred upon me. 



I cannot plead that I am ignorant of the duties, or the responsibilities, of the office 

 to which you have elected me, but, in the same spirit of frankness, permit me to say, 

 that I have many misgivings as to my ability to discharge them, in such a manner, as 

 may be acceptable to you, Gentlemen, or that I shall be able, in any way, to aid, or 

 promote, the progress and prosperity of the Society. 



When I turn to the records of the Society, to read the doings, and remember the 

 talents, of those who have heretofore occupied this chair, and more particularly, the 

 eminent practical services of my immediate predecessor, I have good reason for fear, 

 as regards my own services. But, with you, gentlemen, I have been accustomed to 

 labor; it is therefore almost unnecessary for me to say, that, for the future, I shall 

 hope and expect to receive the same indulgence, you have so often and so kindly extended 

 to me, during a period of nearly twenty years. With these expectations, I enter upon 

 the duties assigned to me, with a determination, on my part, to co-operate with you, in as 

 liberal an administration of the Society, as may be consistent with strict economy, and its 

 future interest. 



I shall take an early opportunity to submit, for your consideration and action, an outline 

 of such measures, as shall appear to me calculated to promote the further consolidation 

 and usefulness of the Society. 



United as we now are, as members, still encouraged by the co-operation of friends, and 

 enjoying the liberal benefactions of our honored donors, I trust our future will be full of 

 usefulness, and that our efforts may advance the object for which we are associated. 



Gentlemen, — When the time arrives, that these new relations, which are formed to day 

 shall be dissolved, may it find us the same united and prosperous Society, strong in mutual 

 friendship and esteem. 



Mr. French presented the following votes, complimentary to the President, which were 

 unanimously adopted : — 



Voted, That the thanks of the Society be tendered to M. P. Wilder, Esq., for his services 

 during the period he was President thereof. 



Voted, That a Committee, of three, be appointed by the chair, to purchase a piece of 

 plate, not exceeding in value one hundred and fifty dollars, and cause a suitable inscription 

 to be placed thereon, and present the same, with the vote of thanks, to M. P. Wilder, in 

 behalf of the Society, as a tribute of regard and esteem of its members. 



Messrs. B. V. French, Newhall and Cabot, were appointed a Committee to carry the 

 foregoing into effect. 



The following vote, presented by Mr. C. M. Hovey, was unanimously adopted : — 

 Voted, That the Society's gold medal be presented to Gen. H. A. S. Dearborn, the first 

 President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, for the essential services he rendered 



