Gextuenex,—1 am not going to delay the enjoyment that is in store fur you by boring you with a long speech, but I thin that just a few words will not be oat of place. (Hear, hear.) We are assembled here tonight to celebrate an occasion which is dear to the hearts of all Irishmen, and my bosom swells with pride at having been chosen to occupy the exalted position of President (Applause). Weare assembled here to do honour, in a manner befitting the traditions of our race, to the hallowed memory of the pious St. Patrick, the sacredness of whose name and of all the associations which have gathered around that name, we in our infancy imbibed with our mother's milk, though a large proportion of those infants haven later years continued the process, bit diluted the drink with whisky. (Laughter:) I would invite yeu, gentlemen, to cast your eyes on those pictures on the wall—on that small, but interesting collection which has been patriotically provided for the occasion by one of the sons of Irs-Iand's soil now present. There, before one, benignly looking down upon us all, hangs an authentic portrait of the Saint, him-ho
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.