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vice to British emigrants and assist in forwarding 

 them to their future homes in the interior of this 

 country. But that part of our duty has been rend- 

 ered less necessary, owing to the judicious and well 

 carried out labors of the Commissioners of Emigra- 

 tion of this State, the esteemed and venerable presi- 

 dent of whom, Julien C. Verplanck, I am happy to 

 say, we have present with us as a guest this evening. 

 Yet during the past winter many an humble cot has 

 been cheered and many a starved and suffering 

 human creature has been comforted and assisted 

 through the charitable efforts of your Society. And 

 if there be any Englishmen who stand aloof and 

 sneer at the comparatively trifling good done by the 

 St. George's Society, I say to them come and join 

 us, unite your hands with ours and let us make that 

 little good greater. 



" But a short year since England was struck with 

 horror, I will not say with terror, at the dreadful 

 news from India, which told us of the massacre of 

 our brave countrymen and of the horrible and unim- 

 aginable atrocities that England's daughters had 

 never before suffered from a foe since the dawn of 

 history. England's enemies shouted with joy, and 

 gloried in anticipation of her downfall. I am proud 

 and happy to say that in this country among intelli- 

 gent men and among all good minded Americans 

 that sentiment was repudiated. I say it is a glory 

 to Americans that on this occasion they cheered us 



