ROYAL AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE,, CIRENCESTER. 509 
the museum. I am sorry to say that the things got together since I have 
been here afford lamentable evidence of the vast stores that must have 
been lost before I came here. But I must say one or two words about 
the future. I must seek new botanical fields, new quarries in which to 
breakstones, and new antiquarian fields; but I shall always have an 
affection for this district. I leave that museum of antiquities in trust to 
you, and believe from all I have heard and seen of a friend of mine on the 
right, that the museum will not suffer in his hands. I purpose, there¬ 
fore, in leaving those antiquities to the charge of Cirencester, to leave 
them in the charge of Capt. Abbott, who has already deposited some 200 
or 300 coins therein, and is constantly collecting specimens; and I do 
sincerely hope he will go on, and that the museum will lose nothing by 
my departure. I have occupied sufficient of your time. I beg to thank 
you most sincerely and heartily for the kindness you have shown to me 
and to my brother professors to-day. I feel it most deeply, and it will be 
very hard with me if the day comes when I shall ever forget it. I believe 
it to be impossible to forget, and I do say I owe a debt of gratitude to 
this place for the great number of kindnesses that I have received here. 
In fact I have received little else; and as the chairman has spoken so 
kindly of my aiding science, I have only to say that if I can assist any one 
of you by any humble efforts of mine, be sure I shall be always ready to 
come at the shortest possible notice (cheers). Fearing that I cannot indi¬ 
vidually shake hands with so many kind friends I see around me, allow 
me to wish you all good bye. I trust I shall hear occasionally how 
some of you get on. I hope I shall meet my friends the farmers at our 
agricultural gatherings, and if I can win any of the prizes they intended 
to get I shall try to do so (loud cheers). 
The Chairman next proposed the health of Dr. Voelcker, which was 
received with great cheering. He remarked that there was a peculiarity 
in the connection of Dr. Voelcker with the college. He was a stranger 
and they took him in. They were told that angels had been sometimes 
relieved in the garb of strangers. Dr. Voelcker was only a man, but he 
was a stranger. He was sure there must have been some loadstone 
which drew him to this country, and attracted the iron in his constitu¬ 
tion. No doubt they were aware, or at least they ought to be aware, 
that Dr. Voelcker got his early instruction from the great European 
chemist, Liebig—the man who to tliis day stood highest in the ranks of 
chemical science. Dr. Voelcker was eminently a practical man. This 
country had got him and meant to keep him. They had turned his 
children into English children, and almost the professor himself. The 
King of Prussia tempted him to leave Cirencester, but he replied that 
though he loved the fatherland still he was attached to England, where 
he was taking root, and would not leave. They must heartily regret 
that he was separated from this institution, for he was still the great 
chemist of agriculture. He gave them the health of Professor Voelcker. 
The toast was enthusiastically drunk. 
Dr. Voelcker^ who was received with loud applause, said: My friend 
the chairman has spoken so kindly and feelingly respecting my merits, 
and has touched on so many tender points, that I feel very great difficulty 
appropriately to thank him for the hearty manner in which he proposed 
prosperity to myself in my future career, and the not less hearty way in 
which this toast has been received by every one of you. I feel a difficulty 
in expressing properly the gratification 1 feel in being here to-night. 
People may call this a complimentary dinner if they please. I do not 
like complimentary dinners, and I do not accept it as such, but as a mark 
of sincere and heartfelt respect. It is your personal feeling of respect and 
