2 Anniversary Address. 



wrong in the supposition, that a suggestion may have operated 

 on the minds of some members in selecting me, as I have 

 always understood that a society of this kind does, in no 

 country, merely tend to the improvement and cultivation of 

 science, but also creates a social intercourse ; and I, there- 

 fore, regard this as neutral ground upon which we can all 

 meet. Gentlemen, I am debarred, as you are aware, from 

 participation in the politics of the country, and I dare not 

 express a single opinion upon any subject which is likely to 

 come before me in my capacity as a judge ; but, fortunately, 

 this is a subject upon which I am free to enter and express an 

 opinion. I am right well aware that there is much for us to 

 do, and, on behalf of this society, I very cordially thank his 

 Excellency for the frank, open, and manly way in which he 

 pointed out what we ought to do. It is a true friend who tells 

 us what our failings are, and who not merely praises us. But 

 he will allow me to say, that he has not seen the troubles 

 through which we have gone, recognizing, as I may, in 

 this instance, those difficulties which every society in its in- 

 fancy has to encounter. I cannot help congratulating the 

 Institute on the progress which it has already made. Some 

 few years ago, I well remember, when I was in office, ab- 

 senting myself from an early meeting of what was the first 

 Institution, on the plea of urgent official duties. And I re- 

 member that my hon. friend, who sits on my immediate 

 right, and who was my predecessor in the chair which I have 

 now the honor to occupy, told me that the encouragement of 

 such societies was of as much importance as official or any 

 other class of duties } that the influence which such institutions 

 were calculated to produce on the state of society was just as 

 of much importance as any motion which I might have the 

 honor of submitting to the Assembly ; or any case which I 

 might have the responsibility of conducting in court. Al- 

 though I was not then sufficiently impressed with the truth 



