II. THE CAUSES WHICH PRODUCED THE VIRGINIA OF THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF HON. WILLIAM WIRT HENRY, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. READ AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, DECEMBER 29, 1891. HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY 13 INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF WILLIAM WIRT HENRY, LL. D., DECEMBER 29, 1891. THE CAUSES WHICH PRODUCED THE VIRGINIA OF THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. Members of the American Historical Association, Ladies and Gentlemen: It is with the highest appreciation of the honor conferred on me at your last meeting in electing me as your presiding officer for the year 1891 that I now enter upon one of the duties imposed upon me, and bespeak your attention, for a short time, while I read the annual address. And first, I heartily congratulate you on the flourishing condition of our association. Its constantly increasing membership, and the appreciation of its work both by the Government and the public, prove incontestably the wisdom and the practical ability with which its affairs have been conducted. A great work lies before us, and we each should feel honored in being permitted to take part in its accomplishment. But while we have abundant cause for thankfulness for the past, we can not look back over the year just closing without a painful feeling of loss in the death of some of our most distinguished and useful members. Within three weeks after the adjournment of our last annual meeting intelligence came of the death of our distinguished ex-president, Hon. George Bancroft. His valuable life had been prolonged till it was entering on the last decade of a century, in the first year of which he was born; and although exhausted nature had for some time been giving plain evidences of the approaching end, yet such was the loving regard in which he was held by his countrymen that they were not prepared for his death, and the feeling was universal that America had met with a grievous loss in the death of one of her greatest citizens. He was the great American historian, whose work will live, however excellent the coming historians of our country may 15 |