HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 73 



The Hon. Edward S. Tobey, the Postmaster of Boston, 

 was called upon, and responded as follows : — 



Mr. President, — You are aware that no intima- 

 tion whatever has been made that any remarks would 

 be expected from me on this occasion ; and when I 

 found myself most agreeably placed at table between 

 two distinguished Federal officers, I ventured to 

 presume that the audience might be spared the in- 

 fliction of a speech by me. But I beg to assure 

 you that I esteem it both an honor and a privilege 

 to participate with others in this highly appropriate 

 recognition of the public services and personal worth 

 of our venerable friend and guest. 



I was gratified to hear him give special promi- 

 nence to his position and influence as a merchant, 

 in comparison with his official connection with very 

 many of the noble, philanthropic, and educational 

 institutions of our State and city, and trace his ability 

 to aid in sustaining them to the pecuniary resources 

 derived from his mercantile business : a fact, as you 

 are aware, not uncommon in the experience of other 

 merchants. 



Our professional friends who are present, will, I 

 trust, pardon me if I venture to assume that, to be 

 an intelligent and successful merchant in conducting 



