16 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



record in the colonial days, in the days of the revolution, 

 her triumphs of commerce in later days, and her triumphs in 

 manufacture in still later da^^s. The wealth of old Essex in 

 her children is something that the whole country may be 

 proud of. I need not enumerate names. 



You understand, of course, tliat this duty has come upon 

 me unexpectedly, and without opportunity of preparation 

 upon my part, and as our friend Mr. Appleton has very 

 kindly written a letter which he desired me to read to you 

 in place of his address, I will allow that to take the place 

 of any further remarks which I might under other circum- 

 stances be constrained to make : — 



Dec. 3, 1894. 

 Hon. Wm. R. Sessions, Secretary State Board of Agriculture. 



Dear Mr. Sessions : — It is with sincere feelings of regret at 

 both the cause and the fact, that I am compelled to be absent 

 from the Newbury port meeting of the Board, in my own county of 

 Essex, for which I have so much interest and affection. 



But one who has been very near to me in family ties has been 

 taken away, — an Essex County man also, by birth and education, 

 brave and sincere in his business work, and who leaves my widowed 

 mother behind him. 



You will all pardon these references at this time, since, on reflec- 

 tion, I recall in the man whom she called father and I called grand- 

 father, a Salem man, an Essex County man and a true citizen, 

 who, like the early brave merchantmen and pioneer mariners of 

 the good city of Newburyport, crossed the broad ocean from Salem 

 harbor with cargoes of goods, as the basis of several trades abroad, 

 before a return brought profits, which helped to build up industrial 

 plants in, and otherwise develop, our country. 



Such a man was that father and grandfather, Nathaniel Silsbee, 

 who was to me when I was a little boy, very dear, and whose love 

 for his country and State endeared him to his constituents, as is 

 proved by their show of confidence in him. He w^as from 1816 

 to 1820 our Congressman; for 1821 and 1822 State Representa- 

 tive from his home town ; 1823-25 president of the State Senate ; 

 and from 1826 to 1835 United States Senator and a colleague with 

 that able statesman, Daniel Webster. In 1840 he was a delegate 

 to nominate a presidential candidate. 



He was earnest for everything that would promote profitable 

 industries for our people, and advance the prosperit}' of Massa- 

 chusetts and Essex County ; he was loyal and sincere to his public 



