266 TESTIMONIAL TO PROFESSOR MORTON, 
Professor Morton, are deeply felt and appreciated by the 
Students ; and that, to evince the gratitude and esteem 
excited by his labours in their behalf, steps be immediately 
taken to present to him an appropriate testimonial.” 
The Chairman then said, — Gentlemen, the resolution 
which has just been read, informs us of the cause for which 
we are assembled here this evening. In it also, very pro- 
perly, allusion is made to the nature of the feelings which 
have actuated us in our proceedings. The sentiments which 
influenced our minds were such as are excited only by long- 
continued and unostentatious kindness and good-will, and 
by the remembrance of personal advantages, such as are 
derived from the labours of one man for others’ benefit. 
The heart of that man must indeed be cold who does not 
feel grateful for kindness ; who does not long to evince by 
his actions, as well as by his words, the gratitude inspired by 
the sacrifices another has made for his sake. One of our 
greatest authors has admirably expressed these sentiments, 
when he says : — There is not a more pleasing exercise of 
the mind than gratitude. It is accompanied with such an 
inward satisfaction, that the duty is sufficiently rewarded by 
the performance. It is not like the practice of many other 
virtues, difficult and painful, but is attended with so much 
pleasure, that were there no positive command which enjoined 
it, nor any recompense laid up for it hereafter, a generous 
mind wmdd indulge in it for the natural gratification that 
accompanies it.” Yes, gentlemen, gratitude is an inherent 
impulse of a generous mind, one of the purest which in- 
fluences man, and he who is so influenced, feels no greater 
pleasure than in acknowledging his high appreciation of it 
by returning kindness with esteem. I scarcely need ask you, 
has Professor Morton’s professional career, — has his personal 
kindness towards us individually, been such as to merit the 
association of such sentiments with his name? In your 
presence, and in this, I may say, beautiful present, I find 
my answer ! We are students ; our esteemed visitor is a 
teacher. It is not to be supposed that we are capable of 
estimating, at their true worth, his talents in that capacity; 
therefore it is that this testimonial assumes the character of 
a mark of gratitude, rather than one in admiration of his 
great professional abilities. It is a tangible expression of the 
deep sense we entertain of his personal kindness towards 
us ; his unwearied assiduity, and his earnest labours in our 
behalf. The influence of such feelings as these alone would 
extract so unanimous an acknowledgment from a class of 
nearly one hundred students. . 
