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ALEXANDER POPE. Numerous are the engraved portraits 

 of this graceful and harmonious poet. Noble's continuation 

 of Granger, gives all, or the greater part of the engravings 

 from his portraits, from which it will be seen, that he was 

 drawn by Kneller, by Richardson, by many others, and par- 



I possessed no qualifications to fit me for the task, and feeling that it ill be- 

 came me to assume it, as I am as yet nearly a stranger amongst you ; aware, 

 too, that I should be surrounded by individuals so much more eligible, inas- 

 much as they are eminently gifted with botanical science and practical 

 knowledge, the result of their horticultural pursuits and facilities, of which 

 I am quite devoid; I wished and begged to decline the proffered honour. 

 It appears, however, that my entreaties are not listened to, and that your 

 kindness and partiality persist in selecting for your chairman one so inade- 

 quate to the situation. Gentlemen, I take the chair with much diffidence; 

 but I will presume to say, that, in the absence of other qualities, 1 bring 

 with me a passionate love for plants and flowers, for the sweets and beauties 

 of the garden, and no inconsiderable fondness for its more substantial pro- 

 ductions. Gardening, as a recreation and relaxation from severer studies 

 and more important avocations, has exquisite charms for me ; and I am 

 ready, with old Gerarde, to confess, that ' the principal delight is in the 

 mind, singularly enriched with the knowledge of these visible things; set- 

 ting forth to us the invisible wisdom and admirable workmanship of Almighty 

 God.' With such predilections, you will easily give me credit, gentlemen, 

 for participating with this assembly in the sincerest wishes for the complete 

 and permanent establishment of a society amongst us, whose object shall be 

 to promote, in the surrounding district, the introduction of different sorts of 

 flowers, culinary vegetables, fruits, improved culture and management gene- 

 rally, and a taste for botany as a science. These are pursuits, gentlemen, 

 combining at once health and innocence, pleasure and utility. Wakefield 

 and its vicinity appear to possess facilities for the accomplishment of such a 

 project, inferior to no district within this great palatinate, indeed, little in- 

 ferior to any in the kingdom. The country is beautiful and charmingly va- 

 ried, and, from the diversity of soil, suited to varied productions; the whole 

 thickly interspersed with seats and villas of persons of opulence, possessing 

 their conservatories, hot-houses, and stoves, their orchards, flower and 

 kitchen gardens: whilst few towns can boast (as Wakefield can) of so many 

 gardens within its enclosure, cultivated with so much assiduity and skill, so 

 much taste and deserved success. Seven years ago, I had the honour to 

 originate a similar project in Preston, in Lancashire, and with the happiest 



