TESTIMONIAL TO MR. ASSIST. -PROFESSOR VARNELL. 235 
so well known to you, that I feel it would be as superfluous 
as it is uncalled for, and therefore, in your names I will 
present that gentleman with this testimonial, trusting that he 
will do us the honour to accept it, and wishing he may live 
many years, in health, to enable him to confer those benefits 
on others which he has conferred on us. 
The presentation being made, Mr. Varnell, in accepting the 
testimonial, said 
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — Your unbounded kind- 
ness has placed me in anything but an enviable position. I 
believe it has often been said that kindness paralyses the 
organs of speech, and I certainly feel as though such was 
the case with me on the present occasion. One might 
naturally expect that the opposite effect would be produced, 
and with many persons, I dare to say, it is, as many doubt- 
less become more eloquent under the same circumstances 
which seem to arrest the very power of speech in others. 
There may be those in whose constitution gratitude is so 
latent a principle that it requires an unusual circumstance 
indeed to produce those emotional effects which in the 
slightest degree would hinder their usual mode of utterance. 
There are also many whose feelings are always expressed with 
the greatest difficulty, especially under circumstances similar 
to those in which I am now placed. To this class of speakers, 
I am sorry to say, I belong. This failing, however, you are 
all familiar with ; still I have to crave your indulgence ; but 
fortunately it requires but little eloquence to convince you 
how grateful I am for the very handsome testimonial you 
have done me the honour to present me with. The eulogiums 
which have been bestowed upon me by the gentleman you 
have deputed to act as your Chairman on this occasion, in his 
kind address, are indeed highly gratifying to my feelings, for 
he assures me that the sentiments he has expressed are those 
possessed by you all, and therefore allow me, before 1 pro- 
ceed any further, to tender to you, Mr. Chairman, to the 
Secretary, and to the Committee in general, my sincere 
thanks for your united kindness, and for the great trouble all 
have been put to on my account. Many a time have I 
asked myself the question, “ Have I done that which is ex- 
pected from me? 5 ’ An inward monitor answers “No!’ 5 I 
feel I might, nay, that I ought, to have done more ; still, 
through your kindness, my omissions as well as errors have 
been tolerated. And now, to receive from your hands this 
handsome present in testimony of my having laboured for 
your benefit, and to your satisfaction, is the greatest honour 
that could possibly be bestowed upon me. Such acts as 
