118 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



prepared fully to respond to all that was so feelingly and so well 

 said by the orator. 



At the close of the address the procession re-formed and 

 marched to the dinner table spread under a large tent, which 

 was crowded with people, drawn together to listen to the magic 

 eloquence of the Hon. Edward Everett. After the edibles had 

 been dispatched, the retiring president of the society, Hon. R. 

 S. Fay, very gracefully introduced Mr. Everett, who cliarmed 

 the listeners with a sketch of the progress of the age during the 

 twenty-two years since he had appeared before them in the 

 character of an orator. A few short speeches from others follow- 

 ed, after which the new president, Colonel Daniel Adams, 

 assumed the chair, and the reading of the awards of premiums 

 by the various committees closed the day's proceedings. 



Jabez Fisher. 



MIDDLESEX. 



I was delegated by the Board of Agriculture to attend the 

 annual exhibition and cattle show of the Middlesex County 

 Agricultural Society, held at Concord on the 29th day of Sep- 

 tember, 1858 ; and I attended accordingly. I viewed the 

 grounds of the society, and the exhibition in their hall, attended 

 the annual dinner and also the annual business meeting. 

 "Without proceeding to consider in detail the various portions of 

 the exhibition and show, I desire, very briefly, to give my im- 

 pressions in regard to the principal features of the occasion. 



I was more gratified with the promptness with which each 

 separate portion of the duties and pleasures of the day was 

 entered upon, than with any other thing. The arrangements 

 had been well. made, and they were carried out with an exact- 

 ness and precision that added much to -their effect. I have 

 never seen the excellence of method so well displayed on any 

 like occasion. It may be inferred from this that the officers of 

 the society are efficient and dutiful ; and such is the fact. And 

 they have also, I am happy to say, the confidence of the mem- 



