68 TKANSACTIOKS. 



took occasion to tender the cordial thanks of the Society to those 

 gentlemen, whose liberality and influence had brought this enterprise 

 to a successful issue. The President concluded with the following 

 sentiment : 



The Orator of the Day — The able and untiring advocate of Scientific Agri- 

 culture, may he be successful in convincing the Farmers, that a little head 

 work saves a great deal of hard work. 



Dr. Hitchcock responded briefly and humorously. He did not 

 expect they would want a speech from him at the table. He found 

 himself in even a tighter place than he occupied an hour or two since, 

 (alluding to his being unexpectedly called upon to deliver the address 

 without preparation,) and after a few more words of earnest depreca- 

 tion, he concluded by saying that he should decline the call alto- 

 gether, and, said he, ' I verily believe this is the most acceptable 

 speech T ever made. He then sat down amidst tumultuous applause- 



The Secretary, J. W. Boydex, moved a vote of thanks to Dr. 

 Hitchcock for the learned and excellent address, with which he had 

 favored them, and that a copy be requested, in jjerjjetuani rei me 

 inoriam, for publication in the Transactions of the Society. This 

 motion was seconded by Mr. Sweetser, Chairman of the Executiv^ 

 Committee, and was carried by acclamation, one loud and long aye ! 



The next sentiment offered was ; 



The State Board of Agriculture — Of their numerous volumes in further- 

 ance of Agriculture they had sent us their best fage ! 



Hon. J. H. W. Page of Boston, delegate of the State Board 

 apologided for his inexperience as a speaker, but said he had intended 

 to deliver himself of a set speech on th occasion. On retiring to 

 his room the night of the first day of the low, when he found himself 

 between the sheets of the bed prepared < him by his amiable hostess 

 now, thought he, is the time to prepare ciy speech for the morrow. — 



So he fell to thinking and composing, 'd, as near as he c " " ^ 



he had progressed as far as " Mr. President." The next he knew 

 was a loud rap at the door, at an early hour, accompanied by the 

 summons, " Breakfast is ready ! Mr. P., evidently an experienced 

 and graceful orator, spoke to a considerable length in a most happy 

 and humorous strain. He paid the highest terms of compliment 

 to the Plowing Match, which he pronounced the best, and on th^ 

 worst ground, he had seen this year, though he had attended, as dele- 



