50 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 



sense entertained of the many and valuable services rendered by you to 

 the Society, during your connection with it as its President. 



In requesting your acceptance of this token of respect, we cannot for- 

 bear alluding to the prosperous condition in which 5^ou leave the affairs of 

 the Society ; we attribate this mainly to the able and efficient manner in 

 w^hich you have discharged the duties and responsibihties connected there- 

 with. 



Permit us, dear sir, to add, in the performance of this our duty, that we 

 have great pleasure, individually, (as well as on account of the Society,) 

 in expressing the high esteem in which we hold your services. 

 Accept our best wishes for your long and continued happiness. 

 Very respectfully, your obedient servants, 



S. WALKER, ) 



E. M. RICHARDS. Committee. 



JOSIAH STICKNEY, ) 



To the Hon. Elijah Vose, Dorchester. 



Dorchester, Dec. 26th, 1840. 



Gentlemen — I have had the honor of receiving your letter of the 25th 

 instant, communicating to me, by the request of the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society, the expression of its approbation of my official conduct 

 whilst connected wdth it. I assure you, gentlemen, that I conceive this 

 manifestation of the good opinion of the Society with great sensibility, 

 more especially, as emanating from those who have so long been the eye- 

 witnesses of the conduct w^hich they have seen proper to approve. 



To whatever extent it may have fallen to ray share to participate in the 

 direction of the affairs of the Society, it has been a paramount object to 

 render it, as far as possible, subservient to the public welfare, by fostering 

 a taste for the various branches of culture which it has been its especial 

 object to promote, by elevating the standard of that taste, and disseminat- 

 ing its influences, so that the beneficial effects, both moral and physical, 

 of the interesting pursuits of horticulture, might be more sensibly felt 

 throughout the community. It is a source of gratification to beheve that 

 exertions to this effect are appreciated. 



I beg you to convey to the members of the Society my sincere thanks 

 for this testimonial of their regard, and to accept my acknowledgements 

 for the flattering manner in which you have tendered to me the beautiful 

 article presented by them. I shall always highly value it, on account of 

 the interesting associations connected with it. 

 With sentiments of great respect, 



I am very truly, yours, 



ELIJAH VOSE. 



To S. Walker. E.M.Richards, and Josiah Stickney, Esqrs. 



