134 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



Hon. Edmund Burke, Comm. of Patents, Wasliington, D. C. 

 Rev. Jas. JNIcans, Dorchester, Mass. 

 H. \V. S Cleaveland, Burlington, N. J. 



Meeting dissolved. 



January 6/h, 1849. — The first stated quarterly meeting of the Society 

 was held to-day ; — President AVilder took the chair, and introduced his suc- 

 cessor, Mr. Walker, as follows : — 



Gentlemen of the Massachusetts HorlicuUural Society, — 



The duly of introducing my successor, your President elect, devolves on me under 

 very happv auspices — your suffrages have fallen on a man, who is worthy of the offire> 

 and well qualilied for it — on one who has served the Society, in various capacities' 

 with fidelity and ability, and whom you now reward with the highest honor in your gift. 



Gentlemen. — I rejoice with you in this event, and in the prosperous condition of our 

 Association — in the friendship and unanimity that prevails among us, and especially 

 in an opportunity, before taking final leave of the Chair, to thank you once more, most 

 sincerely, for the distinction which you have bestowed en me — a distinction for 

 which, at my first election, I had not presumed to hope, hut which, having been so 

 often conferred, and by those whose approbation I highly appreciate, I shall ever re- 

 gard as above any earthly preferment. 



During my administration, it has been my desire and endeavor to discharge the 

 duties of my office, with impartiality, and with a view to the best interests of the 

 Society. How well I have succeeded, I leave for others to judge ; but, whatever suc- 

 cess may have attended these efforts, for you, my official associates, with whom I have 

 had such long and pleasant intercourse, and from whom I have received uniform anrt 

 cordial support, I shall ever entertain an affection next to that for lamily and homt. 



Gentlemen, — may a kind Providence bless you in your persons, in your families, and 

 in all your laudable eflTorls to extend the usefulness, and to increase the resources, of 

 this institution ; and may he, who is now to occupy this chair, prove inore worthy of 

 the confidence and respect, you have so liberally bestowed upon me. 



To which Mr. Walker replied in the following appropriate address : — 



Gentlemen of the Society: — 



The very kind manner in which my friend. Col. Wilder, has introduced me, and his 

 determination, if it were possible, to lay me under further obligations, by his courtesy, 

 and his avowed approbation of my past services, happily afford me an opportunity to 

 stale how much I value his friendship— the pleasure it has given ine to serve the So- 

 ciety, under his administration, and to tender you, Gentlemen, my thanks, for the 

 honor you have conferred upon me. 



I cannot plead that I am ignorant of the duties, or the responsibilities, of the office 

 to which you have elected me, but, in the same spirit of frankness, permit me to say, 

 that I have many misgivings as to my ability to discharge them, in such a manner, 

 as may i)e acceptable to you, Gentlemen, or that I shall be able, in any way, to aid, or 

 promote, the progress and prosperity of the Society. 



When I turn to the records of the Society, to read the doings, and remember the 

 talents, of those who have heretofore occupied this chair, and more ])articularly, the 

 eminent |>raclieal services of my immediate predecessor, I have good reason for fear, 

 as regards my own services But, with you, gentlemen, I have been accustomed to 

 labor; it is therefore almost unnecessary for me to say, that, for the future, 1 shall 

 hope and expect to receive the same indulgence, you have so often and so kindly ex- 

 tended to me, during a period of nearly twenty years. With these expectations, I 

 enter upon the duties assigned to me, with a determination, on my part, to co-operate 

 with you, in as liberal an administration of the Society, as may he consistent with 

 strict economy, and its future interest. 



I shall take an early opportunity to submit, for your consideration and action, an 



