The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-11-15
From the Washington Chroniele.l
Presentation 10 Hon. j.. ID. Deirees

A verynlarge number Of the en-
ployees 0ftthe Government Printing
Office, last night, called at the resi-
dence of Mr. John ID. Defrees, late
Superintendent of the Public Print.
ing, where he was made the recipient
of number Of valuable books, here
tofore described by us. .49atihP ~
Mr.. j. G. 9. Whaley, on behalf of
the employees, made the following re-
marks:
Mn. DEFREEs We are here as rep.
resentatiyes Of the employees of the
Government Printing Office, under
your late uperintendency, having
been deputed by them to perform the
pleasing duty of presenting to you, in
the form of these volumes, an ac-
acknowledgement Of their esteem for
your character as d gentleman and
public. officer, with whom they had
been long and closely associated We
believe il TO be peculiarly fitting at
this time, that such an acknowledge
ment should be made. The uniform
mildness of your administration, the
kind and courteous manner in which
you always received and treated those
in your employ, could not do other
wise than engender feelings Of kind
regard and friendship; and now that
your official connection with us
has been severed, we believe the
time most opportune to give
tangible expression to that re-
gard and friendship; a time when
even the most fastidious can do SO
with perfect propriety Coming, as
This testimonial does, from those en-
ployed insevery branch of industry in
the. office, comprising many of both
sexes, it is entirely diyested of pogiti-
cal considerations, and is a gift 70 you
in your character of private gentle
man, as a recognition Of the esteem in
which you were held by them while
acting as their superintendent. In
that spirit we hope and believe that
you will accept and cherish these vol
umes, -and~bear in kind remembrance
those who gave them. In conclusion.
Sir, allow me TO present you the En-
cyclopedia Britannica, the works of
Cooper, of Hood, and of Edgar A.
Poe, feeling assured that, while en-
joylng the pleasure and profit derived
from astudy of these works of genius,
additional zest will be given to that
enjoyment by the recollection that
these books are the gift Of those who
were intimately connected with you as
their superintendent during long
and eventful period of our country's
history. In addition, Sir, we would
tender you our best wishes for the
future welfare and happiness of your
self and family. .55.0 ~
follows:
GENTLEMEN: Associated as we were
Tor SO long time in the Government
PRINTING Office, ard not having seen
SO many Of you since / left that estab
hshment, ltlglves Inc real pleasure 10
see you here this evening.
Although not entirely upaoo,stou
ed to public speaking wears MOO as
sure you | never attempted "a sneaL
under so much embarrassment ne T
now feel. "'
The emotions caused by the mannar
in which your representative hos
given expression to your feelings Of
Kindness for me are such as TO nre-
vent anything like a speech ON nv
part.
Valuable as are these books in
themselves, when presented as a tes-
timonial Of the esteem of those whose
good opinions appreciate so highly,
their worth to me is above all esti-
mate
In accepting them, as / do, Iassure
you that / most cordially reciprocate
the kind feelings which prompted
their presentation, and that ! shall