HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 



43 



The Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, Vice-President of the 

 Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, 

 responded for that Society as follows : — 



Mr. President, and Gentlemen, — I accepted with 

 great pleasure your very kind invitation to this 

 dinner in honor of our venerable friend, the Hon. 

 Marshall P. Wilder, who has completed his eighty- 

 fifth year, and is with us to-day as fresh and vigorous 

 in his appearance as he is in intellect ; and though I 

 had not thought, in the presence of so many dis- 

 tinguished guests, to be called upon to speak on this 

 occasion, yet it gives me unqualified pleasure to add 

 my congratulations to swell the chorus of affection 

 and respect which arises from so many full hearts. 



Sir, I doubt if there has ever been so exceptional 

 a gathering as this in honor of one during his life, 

 at so advanced an age ; and I trust it may in some 

 measure recompense Colonel Wilder for his many 

 generous and useful services rendered not only to his 

 friends and neighbors, but to the State and Nation. 

 Eminent as a merchant, he is equally distinguished 

 in the arts of horticulture and agriculture. He has 

 bestowed years of careful thought and untiring zeal 

 in inspiring a love for them among his fellow-men ; 

 and for the good his enthusiasm in these pursuits has 



