SECOND TRIENNIAL FESTIVAL, 1845. 275 



of September, which was attended by about six hundred 

 ladies and gentlemen. Large trees from the forests 

 filled up the spaces between the pillars of the galleries ; 

 while the panels and columns were ornamented with 

 graceful festoons', and tastefully int wined with flowers. 

 Appropriate inscriptions and mottoes were placed at 

 each end of the .hall ; and the front of the galleries 

 bore the names of distinguished botanists and horti- 

 culturists. The president of the Society, Marshall P. 

 Wilder, presided, and delivered the opening address, 

 in which he reviewed the progress of the Society from 

 its beginning. He was followed by the Hon. Edward 

 Everett, who had that morning arrived in Boston, after 

 a five years' residence as minister of the United States 

 at the court of St. James ; by the Hon. Daniel Web- 

 ster, who was called on as the " Marshfield Farmer;" 

 and by the Hon. John G. Palfrey, secretary of the 

 Commonwealth. Addresses were also delivered by the 

 Hon. Josiah Quincy, ex-president of Harvard Univer- 

 sity, the Hon. Eobert C. Winthrop, the Hon. Caleb 

 Cushing, who had just returned from his embassy to 

 China, and other distinguished guests. A sentiment 

 in honor of the memory of Judge Story " who, in the 

 name of the Society, performed the sacred act of conse- 

 cration of Mount Auburn," and who died a short time 

 before the festival ; was received by the company in 

 appropriate silence, and the band played Pleyel's Hymn. 

 Among other interesting incidents of the occasion was 

 the presence of the venerable widow of Alexander 

 Hamilton (the daughter of Gen. Philip Schuyler), who 

 sat on the right of the president, and was introduced 

 to the audience by Mr. Webster. Besides the appro- 

 priate sentiments and the music of the band, original 

 songs and odes enlivened the occasion. 



