ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 5 



the mind sophisticated by the habit of seeking for arguments to 

 maintain an assumed opinion or side, in the stead of the unprej- 

 udiced exploration of the depths of supreme and eternal truth. 

 In this he was favored by fortune ; the rest was all his own — 

 opportunities of education and mental formation faithfully 

 improved, scholarly accomplishments, a graceful and ready elo- 

 quence, courteous bearing, candor of judgment, a spirit manly 

 and generous, firmness of tenet softened by moderation of tem- 

 perament, justness of principle, philanthropy in sentiment and 

 practice, not in loud profession, religion of the heart as well as 

 of the head and of the outward life, equableness of general 

 worth, constancy and uprightness in the performance of all liis 

 duties, whether to himself, his country or his God." 



Mr. King was secretary of the society from 1842 to 1844, and 

 was one of the vice-presidents from 1848 to 1850, the year of 

 his death. 



The secretaries of the society have been : David Cummins, 

 1818 ; Frederick Howes, 1819 ; John W. Proctor, 1820-42 ; 

 Daniel P. King, 1842-44 ; Allen W. Dodge, 1844-61 ; Charles 

 P. Preston, 1861. 



Of these, David Cummins, Frederick Howes and Daniel P. 

 King are deceased. I am happy in this opportunity to pay a 

 just tribute to the long and valuable service of Mr. Proctor, 

 both as secretary and president. And. I know you will join me 

 in expressions of sympathy for those infirmities which have 

 visited his old age, and render his enjoyment of this day, so rich 

 in memories to him, impossible. 



When you consider the character of those who organized this 

 association, you will not be surprised to learn that the prepara- 

 tion of addresses and essays upon agricultural subjects formed 

 an important, and for some years the only duty, in which its 

 members were interested. Colonel Pickering began, continued 

 and ended his connection with the society by constant and dili- 

 gent labor with his pen. His example has been well followed, 

 and, while our volumes have been filled with essays by practical 

 farmers, the annual addresses, invariably delivered by a citizen 

 of the county, form an interesting and useful part of our agri- 

 cultural literature. 



The first address was delivered by Timothy Pickering, May 5, 

 1818, upon " Manure ; Domestic Animals, or the live stock of a 



