TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 103 



Yet vainly rose the grassy turf, and vainly pipe and song 

 Led on through many a moonlit dance the festal hours along ; 

 For kindly summer's ripening beam and showers of gentle rain, 

 To false and fabled gods ihey raised their hearts and hands in vain. 



But we with Truth's enlightened eye behold the ample store, 

 When every whispered hope has swelled to perfect joy once more ; 

 With nobler homage bless the Power, whose bountj' fills the board, 

 And join to praise with grateful songs the universal Lord. 



Not theirs, alas, the glorious thoughts that range above the sky, 

 " Come, let us eat and drink," they said, " to-morrow shall we die ;" 

 For us in every golden sheaf and glittering flower is given 

 The symbol of immortal hopes beyond the bending heaven. 



Then oh, as each returning year with clustering fruits is crowned. 

 And flushed with joy the smiling land in beauty brightens round. 

 With grateful hearts and honors loud His praises let us own, 

 Whose endless goodness lives for us, eternal as His throne ! 



The next regular toast was, — 



The Mayor of the City of Boston, — The first specimen of a native 

 seedling, watched with great care, and giving promise, each day, of having 

 come from good stock. 



His Honor, Thomas A. Davis, said in reply : — 



Had I the physical ability to address this meeting, under the existing 

 circumstances I should not attempt it ; but I will give you, as a sentiment, — 



The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, — A most excellent institu- 

 tion, if we may judge from its fruits. 



Faneuil Hall, — The birthplace, cradle, and home of the liberties of our 

 country. Liberty loves to greet here, in her palace, Nature's Noblemen. 



Harvard University, — The flower bed of the State, the garden that 

 produces plants whose bloom is perennial. 



Music, — " Fair Harvard." 



The Hon. Josiah Quincy replied : — 



Having been told by the Chairman that this being a sentiment in honor 

 of Harvard University, it was expected that he should respond to it, he 

 should do it most willingly ; although he was no longer ofhcially connected 

 with that institution, and now claimed only the enviable distinction, which 

 he had enjoyed for two days, of being a citizen of Boston. He had come, 

 however, to that meeting with no purpose of speaking, but with the sole 

 intention to enjoy. He had attended the exhibition, and, while there, had 

 exhausted every superlative of honor in the English language, in express- 

 ing his gratification and delight. In the Horticultural Hall, he had wit- 

 nessed the wonders wrought by the Florist's hand ; he had there seen what 

 man could do, by labor and taste, to enlarge, beautify, and multiply the 

 bounties of nature ; he had seen how art, and wisely employed capital, 



