THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 15 



all these grounds, should be accorded freely, with understanding, and with 

 patience. 



This brings me, Ladies and Gentlemen, to the close of what I have to 

 say to you this evening. From my opening remarks, you will have 

 gathered that I looked on you as an extremely formidable audience. That 

 was when I only knew you, so to speak, on paper. Now that I have met 

 some of you face to face — and hope to meet others in the Town Hall in a 

 few minutes — I can only say that, if the Presidential Address has not the 

 traditional weight of knowledge behind it, no President in the history of 

 the Association has ever received a more kindly and sympathetic welcome 

 than you have given me to-night. I am deeply grateful for it. 



One more duty remains to me— a duty to our hosts and to our guests. 

 The University and the City of Oxford have received us all with a high 

 hospitality worthy of this town, to which all who have known it in the 

 past always return with delight, and which never fails to throw its spell 

 on those who see it for the first time. Their friendly reception has made 

 it possible for those who have worked so hard at the organisation of this 

 meeting to bring it to the successful culmination which it promises to 

 attain. Not the least successful feature of it is the large number of 

 distingmshed guests whom it has attracted from overseas. To all of 

 these I wish to offer a most cordial welcome, with the sincere hope that 

 they may always carry with them, as I shall myself, the most pleasant 

 recollections of a very memorable gathering. 



