92 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



when he was its commander. It seems to have been 

 the practice to extend an invitation to the commander 

 of any naval vessel in the port of Boston, at the time, 

 whether of the American or other nationalities. In 

 1827 Capt. Basil Hall of the British navy, and General 

 Coffin of the British army were present. Doubtless 

 the list might be much extended had any record been 

 kept. The British consul was an occasional or fre- 

 quent guest, and, that no other consuls appear to have 

 been, is probably attributable to difference of lan- 

 guage, whereby the convivial wit and oratory had a 

 lesser attraction for them. That these abounded there 

 is ample evidence; but everything was done in the 

 New England fashion. It is recorded of one of the 

 dinners that Rev. John Foster, D. D., of Brighton, 

 asked the blessing before the banquet, and Rev. John 

 Pierce, D. D., of Brookline, offered thanks at its close. 

 This was, no doubt, in conformity with the usual order 

 of proceeding. 



It may be remarked that, while, as respects the 

 dignity of these occasions, the presence of leading 

 citizens and intelligent agriculturalists of distant 

 places is testimony, in its proper degree, it is significant 

 also as showing that the reputation of the society's 

 exhibitions was widespread ; and a reasonable implica- 

 tion would be that the society's influence for much or 

 for little was co-extensive. These visitors were in a 

 sense envoys — self-appointed, indeed, some of them, 

 or perhaps unconscious of having any such function. 

 But when they returned home they made report 

 among their neighbors as to what the men of bright 

 wits and long purses in Massachusetts were doing to 

 promote agriculture, what stage of advancement in 

 the art the exhibition gave proof of, and what skill and 

 what methods were requisite for success in holding 



