Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 391 



to be held in the grateful remembrance of this republic, who was the daugh- 

 ter of one and the bosom companion of the other of them. I propose to you 



The health, prosperitij, and long life of Mrs. Hamilton. [Renewed applause.] 



The President said that he was requested by Mrs. Hamilton to return 

 thanks for the cordial manner in which she had been received, and to 

 wish those present all health, happiness, and prosperity. 



He then said that a volunteer toast that had been handed to him, antici- 

 pated one which he had been about to offer. It was : — 



The youngest officer that ever presided over our city affairs — A Chap caught young, 

 but a true man for efficiency. He can make a hundred speeches a day, and ought to 

 speak on this occasion. 



The Hon. Mr. Chapman responded in a speech as full of wit and humor 

 as the sentiment which called him up. He said : If T am the bo7/, Mr. 

 President, to whom you intend to apply that compliment, which is so luxu- 

 riant, that I think it must have been raised by guano — there are two ways 

 in which I might answer it. One is to get upon stilts, put myself upon my 

 dignity, and gravely defend myself. But if I should attempt that, you 

 might follow me up in the words, or nearly the words, of the old song of 

 " The King and the Countryman :" — 



" What! be that an 'old Mayor' that I see there! 

 Why, I've seen a Chap at our village fair, 

 Look more like an ' Old Mayor' than that Chap there." [Applause.] 



The Other mode, and the one which on the whole I prefer, is, to " con- 

 fess and avoid." And therefore, if you will apply to me such epithets as 

 those of your toast, T have only to say, in the language of another quite 

 old piece of poetry : — 



" You'd scarce expect one of my age 

 To speak in public on the stage j [Laughter.] 

 And if I chance to fall below 

 Demosthenes or Cicero," 



[As Mr. Chapman pronounced this line, and indicated by a gesture two 

 of the orators of the evening as those whom he alluded to, the whole meet- 

 ing greeted him with shouts of amusement and applause.] And, continued 

 he, 



" Don't view me with a critic's eye, 

 But pass my imperfections by." 



And, Sir, whether as man or boy, in office or out, here or elsewhere, I 

 stand so much in need of the charity invoked in these two last lines, that I 

 repeat them from the bottom of my heart, — 



" Don't view me with a critic's eye, 

 But pass my imperfections by." 



[Mr. Chapman then proceeded to relate the difficulties attendant upon 

 making a speech, and concluded as follows] : — 



I heard a story the other day, which, as it illustrates this difficulty, and 

 is a short one, permit me to repeat it. It was of an unmarried man, who, 



