28 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



mittee ; whose sympathies were wholly with the proprietors of lots. 

 When the report of the Committee was adopted by the Society 

 Mr. Wilder was Chairman of the Committee a|)pointed to carr}' it 

 into effect; and when in I808 Dr. Bigelow, then President of the 

 Proprietors of JNIoiint Auburn, desired a conference with the Hor- 

 ticultural Society while some of those who had been acquainted 

 with the subject from the beginning were still living, to adjust 

 amicably certain differences that had gradually arisen, Mr. 

 Wilder was one of the Committee on the part of the Society. 

 The marble bust of Mr. Wilder by Henr}' Dexter, presented to 

 the Society by Charles O. Whitmore, March 31, 1863, was in- 

 tended by the donor to commemorate Mr. Wilder's services to the 

 Society, and particularly those in connection with Mount Auburn. 



Mr. Wilder was Vice-President of the Society in 1839 and 18-40 ; 

 and President from 1841 to 1818, holding that office longer than 

 any other who has filled it. Great energy, unwearied persever- 

 ance, and much skill and tact are necessary in the executive officers 

 of such a society to maintain its influence, meet its large ex- 

 penses, and justify the public expectation in regard to it. All 

 these qualities were singularly united in him. Soon after becom- 

 ing President he commenced the measures which resulted in the 

 erection of Horticultural Hall on School street, believed to be the 

 first building ever erected by a horticultural society for its own 

 use. The corner stone was laid by Mr. Wilder, who delivered an 

 appropriate address, on the 14th of September, 1844 ; and the 

 buihling was dedicated on the loth of May, 1845. He was also a 

 member of the Building Committee of the present Horticultural 

 Hall. 



It was during Mr. Wilder's presidency, in 1842, 1845, and 1848 

 that the Triennial Festivals of the Society were held No more 

 brilliant /e^es than these had ever been held in Boston, and those 

 who knew Mr. Wilder in his later years will remember how he 

 loved to recall that in 1845 the festival (in Faneuil Hall) was at- 

 tended b}' Hon. Edward Everett, who had that mormng arrived in 

 Boston after a five years' residence as minister of the United 

 States at the court of St. James; Hon. Caleb Cusliing, who had 

 just returned from his embassy to China ; and many other distin- 

 guished guests, including Hon. Daniel Webster, who asked per- 

 mission of tiie President to inlroduce to the assembly the 

 venerable widow of Alexander Hamilton, the daughter of Gen. 



