114 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 



cheering.) And, ladies and gentlemen, while devoted revolutionary ser- 

 vices shall be remembered, and while great administrative talent finds a 

 voice to sound its praises in our republic, neither one nor the other of these 

 great names will be forgotten, nor can she cease to be held in the grateful 

 remembrance of this republic, who was the daughter of one and the bosom 

 companion of the other. I propose to you, — 



The health, fkospekity, and long lii-e of Mrs. Hamilton. (Renewed 

 applause.) 



The President said that he was requested by Mrs. Hamilton to return 

 thanks for the cordial manner in which she had been received, and would 

 most sincerely reciprocate the sentiment just otfered, by wishing all 

 present, health, happiness, and prosperity. 



He then said that a volunteer toast that had been handed to him, antici- 

 pated one which he had been about to ofl'er. It was, — 



The youngest officer that ever presided over our City affairs, — 

 A Chap caught young, but a true man for efllciency. He can make a hun- 

 dred speeches a day, and ought to speak on this occasion. 



Hon. Jonathan Chapman was called upon to respond to this sentiment. 

 He said, — If I am the boy, Mr. President, to whom you intend to apply 

 that compliment, which is so luxuriant, that I think it must have been raised 

 by guano, there are two ways in which I might answer it. One is to get 

 upon stilts, put myself upon my dignity, and gravely defend myself. But if 

 I should attempt that, you might follow me up in the words, or nearly the 

 words, of the old song of " The King and the Countryman :" — 



" What ! be that an ' Old Mayor' tlial I see there ! 

 Why, I've seen a Chap at our village fair, 

 Look more like an ' Old Mayor' ihau that Cliap there." (Applause.) 



The other mode, and the one which on the whole I prefer, is, to " confess 

 and avoid." And, therefore, if you will apply to me such epithets as those 

 of your toast, I have only to say, in the language of another quite old 

 piece of poetry : — 



" You'd scarce expect one of my age 

 To speak in public on the stage ; (Laughter.) 

 And if I chance to fall below 

 Demosthenes or Cicero," 



[As Mr. Chapman pronounced this line, and indicated by a gesture two 

 of the orators of the evening, as those to whom he alluded, the whole 

 meeting greeted him with shouts of amusement and applause.] And, 

 continued he, 



" Don't view mc with a critic's eye, 

 But pass my imperfections by." 



