ADDRESSES. 



At the customary anuual meeting of the Society for the induction into 

 office of the new Board of Government, held on the 2d of January, the 

 following interesting addresses were delivered by the retiring President, 

 Joseph S. Cabot of Salem, and his successor in office, Josiah Stickney of 

 Watertown : — 



ADDRESS OF MR. CABOT. 



We are assembled here this morning, Gentlemen of the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society, with such favorable auguries as are to be inferred 

 from bright skies and a clear sun, to inaugurate the government of the 

 Society for the year now commencing; as this is the day when, in accord- 

 ance with the provisions of its by-laws, its officers chosen at the last annual 

 election are to enter upon the discharge of their respective duties. At the 

 present time those who for the last few years have filled some of the more 

 prominent offices in the Society, retire from farther service therein, the 

 vacancies thereby created having been filled by new elections ; and thus 

 the occasion assumes somewhat more than its usual degree of importance, 

 commencing as it does not only a new year, but a new administration of 

 the affairs of the association. 



Upon this occasion, then, so accompanied by circumstances that tend to 

 render it impressive, I trust to be excused for a few remarks that may seem 

 to me applicable to the occasion, and such as the circumstances may 

 seem to justify if not to demand. 



To me, gentlemen, the occasion is one of deep interest, because, after 

 having for the last six years discharged the duties of President of the 

 Society, I am to-day to be released from the cares and responsibilities of 

 that office ; and thus the occasion becomes to me one of those eras, as it 

 were, that come at times to all men, and serve to mark distinctly, to them- 

 selves at least, the different stages of their own progress. Although the 

 cares and responsibilities of the President of this Society may be neither 

 onerous or oppressive, yet have they become to me, from long continuance, 

 so far wearisome and annoying, that a feeling of relief is experienced at 

 being released therefrom ; and yet when it is considered that this relief is 

 obtained at the cost of breaking up long-continued associations and habits 

 of business, — and that the event of which it is the result speaks in lan- 

 guage not to be misunderstood, and that should not be disregarded, of the 

 rapid passing away of time, — the satisfaction experienced is found not to 

 be without alloy, but to be, in view of these circumstances, mingled with 

 a feeling akin to sadness. 

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