ADDRESS. 



When asked to address the Essex Agricultural Society 

 at its dinner today I hesitated, feeling that I should prove 

 a chestnut, as it were, to those who by their votes permitted 

 me to preside for several consecutive years over their Socie- 

 ty, Trustee meetings, the all-day educational, "Institute" 

 meetings, that are held during the winter months in dif- 

 ferent parts of this county. 



That service with our members, and expert speakers on 

 agricultural topics, to the agriculture of Essex County, 

 was a pleasure to all participants, I am sure, by its bringing 

 together in close contact the opinions and agricultural 

 needs of our fellow citizens from all parts of the County ; 

 and I trust and believe that the work which we did together 

 during those years has been of considerable real benefit to 

 the business of agriculture, and the welfare of our fellow 

 agriculturists. 



The field-meetings that were held at the State Hospital, 

 at Danvers, where Implements that are useful on the farm, 

 or were new inventions, were exhibited and discussed, also 

 brought together the men of Essex who had a common in- 

 terest in improving the agricultural business prospects of 

 Essex County, that we have voted in, and are proud to call 

 our home. I will speak of our fair later. 



But the idea of home has a broader, and wider limit than 

 the boundary of City, Town, or County, broader and wider 

 than the outlines of our state. 



By the force of our Navy, and the influence of our 



