132 PROCEEDINGS. 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



Saturday, September 29, 1849. 



President, Samuel Walker, in the Chair. 



The Committee appointed at the last meeting to nominate OfRcers, &c., made their 

 report, but in consequence of the declination of some of the nominees, it was referred 

 back, for the purpose of nominating others to fill the vacancies. 



The Committee appointed to investigate the loss by various Members, and others, at the 

 Annual Exhibition, reported that they had not been able to discover the transgressors, and 

 recommended the appointment of a Committee to take charge of all contributions for the 

 future; the expulsion of any member found guilty of so mean and contemptible an act as 

 taking articles not belonging to him, and the discharge of any person in their employ who 

 may be found guilty of so doing. 



The following Correspondence was submitted by C. M. Hovey, chairman of the Com- 

 mittee appointed to present the Society's Gold Medal to the Hon. H. A. S. Dearborn, as a 

 mark of esteem for his eminent services while President of the Society : — 



To the Hon. H. A. S. Dearborn, Roxbury, Mass. 



Dear Sir, — Agreeably to a vote of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, passed at 

 the annual meeting, January 6, 1849, a copy of which is enclosed, we now, in accordance 

 with that vote, have the pleasure of presenting you with the Society's Gold Medal. 



Many years have passed away since you presided at the head of our association ; when 

 your zeal in the cause of horticultural science; — your untiring exertions to render popular 

 the pleasing pursuit to which it is especially devoted; — your arduous labors while guiding 

 its affairs in the infancy of its organization, and your extensive correspondence with 

 gentlemen of science in every country and clime, gave to the Society a standing 

 and position which has since caused it to be looked upon as the parent association of our 

 country. 



As a small, but not the less earnest tribute to your labors, as the first President of the 

 Society, at a period when, in addition to its horticultural affairs, that noble monument of 

 your devotion to its interests. Mount Auburn Cemetery was projected, we now present you 

 with the Society's Gold Medal, and beg your acceptance of the same. 



With the assurance of our best wishes for your health and prosperity, we have the 

 honor to be, dear sir, respectfully yours, 



C. M. HOVEY, 



CHEEVER NEWHALL, \ Committee. 



Boston, Sept. 25, 1849. E. M. RICHARDS, 



■■! 



Hawthorn Cottage, Roxbury, Sept. 28, 1849. 



Gentlemen, — This afternoon I received, with great pleasure, your very kind letter 

 and the beautiful gold medal, which the Massachusetts Horticultural Society has so 

 generously conferred upon me; and I request that you will do me the favor of presenting 

 my grateful acknowledgments to the members of that important insthution for the honor 

 they have done me. I deeply regret, however, that my humble efforts to promote one 

 of the most interesting branches of rural industry have not been more worthy of such 

 distinguished consideration and so precious a reward. 



For the very favorable manner in which you have been pleased to estimate the very 

 limited services I have attempted to render my fellow-citizens who are interested in the 

 various departments of useful and ornamental cultivation, I offer my sincere thanks. 



With the most ardent aspirations for the prosperity of the Society, and your individual 

 happiness, I have the honor of being, gentlemen, your much obliged and most obedient 

 servant, H. A. S. DEARBORN. 



C. M. Hovey, Cheever Newhall, E. M. Richards, Esqrs., Committee. 



