120 PROCEEDINGS. 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



Saturday, May 12, 1849. 



President, Samuel Walker, in the Chair. 



On motion of Mr. Wilder, it was 



Voted, That the Treasurer, with the advice and consent of the Finance Committee, be 

 authorized to make a sale of Stocks, and to borrow a sum of money, not exceeding one 

 thousand dollars, to meet a mortgage due 16th of May, 



The President was authorized to fexecute a mortgage deed of ten thousand dollars, made 

 to Josiah Bradlee, Esq. 



M. P. Wilder, late President of the Society, was presented with a piece of plate, and the 

 Committee submitted the following correspondence : — 



Boston, May 1, 1849. 

 Hon. Marshall P. WJder. 



Dear Sir: — At a meeting of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, held in their 

 Library room, January 6th, 1849, the following Resolutions were passed : — 

 [For Resolutions, see page 116.] 



And now, sir, in compliance with the above Resolutions, we present for your acceptance, 

 a Silver Pitcher, which we request you to receive as a token of esteem for the zeal and 

 success with which you have served in the cause of Horticulture and Floriculture while a 

 member of the Society, and more particularly while acting as President during the term of 

 eight years. 



With sincere wishes for your continued usefulness, health and prosperity, we are, 

 Sir, most respectfully, your friends, 



BENJ. V. FRENCH, 

 CHEEVER NEWHALL, 

 JOSEPH S. CABOT. 



Boston, May 10, 1849. 

 To the Hon. Benj. V. French, Checvcr Ncwhall, Esq. and Hon. Joseph S. Cabot, Committee. 



Gentlemen: — The splendid testimonial which accompanied your esteemed favor of 

 the 1st instant, has been received, — also, a copy of the Resolutions passed by the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society on the occasion of my retiring from its Presidency. 



I accept of this rich and beautiful gift with lively emotions of gratitude; not for its 

 intrinsic value, but as an enduring memorial of the confidence and respect so uniformly 

 extended to me during the many years of my administration. 



I gratefully acknowledge the kind manner with which you have performed the duty 

 assigned to the Committee. Permit me also to tender through you, to the Members of 

 the Society, my sincere thanks for this substantial manifestation of their approbation, and to 

 assure them, that I shall ever regard it as a lasting record of relations, which to me, have 

 been both pleasant and honorable. 



The high appreciation of my humble services, which you have caused to be inscribed 

 on the bright tablet of this elegant present, will excite renewed interest for the welfare 

 and fame of our noble institution ; and I doubt not, that long after w^e have passed from 

 this earthly scene, it will be preserved by my descendants, as a valuable memento of a 

 Society from which I have received distinguished favors, and of endeared friends, with 

 whom I have ever felt it an honor to have my name associated. 



Please accept for yourselves, gentlemen, my most grateful thanks, and for the Society 

 the assurance of my highest regard. 



MARSHALL P. WILDER. 



