Thomas Graham

SUPPER & PRESENTATION
On Friday evening last, a few of the friends of Mr Thomas Graham, late of the Forth Woollen Mills, entertained him to supper in the Star Hotel, on the occasion of his leaving this country for Canada. The presentation consisted of a silver salver, suitably inscribed, and a purse containing seventy sovereigns - given as an expression of their feelings towards him, their estimation of his character, and of their earnest desire that his efforts may be crowned with success in the country to which he goes. Mr W.Thomson discharged the duties of the chair, and after a few suitable reamrks, called on Mr Scott, who spoke as follows in making the presentation:-
"Mr Chairman and friends, A duty has been laid upon me to perform this evening, which, however gracious and pleasant in itself, is to me somewhat onerous in its fulfilment. To be the medium of communicating pleasant tidings, friendly feelings, and generous sympathy, must be highly gratifying, however conscious the medium may be of inadequately doing his duty. We have met here this evening under a generous impulse to take good-bye of our friend Mr Graham, with whom most of us have been long acquainted in various capacities of life, and in the knowledge of his intention to leave his native land, to present him with a somewhat substanial token of our esteem and regard, as well as of our sincere desire for his welfare and success in the land to which he looks as the scene of his future efforts.

And now, Mr Graham, it gives me very great pleasure indeed to put into your hands this piece of plate, with which there is a purse containing seventy souvereigns. It has been said, "all memorials are sad:" to us the present one is indeed so, as it speaks of separation between us; yet it also says something fitted to cheer and to encourage, not certainly because of its intrinsic value, but because of the feelings it is intended to express.
And now, Sir, I do earnestly hope that, as it was the experience of one stricken under some of the dark dispensations of Providence to exclaim, "All these things are against me," to see these evolve in light, producing
joy and gratitude to God for all the way in which he had been led, may it be your experience also.

"Ne'er trow the day will lower throughout, Altho' the daw' be dark:
Ne'er dream ye're doomed to darg through life, Tho' hard your early wark:
The morning gray and misty, Aften brings a golden day
A stieve heart and a sturdy step Will climb the steepest brae."

Mr Graham replied in a feeling manner.
Mr Mathie, Mr Gentleman, Mr Ferguson, Mr Davidson, Mr Hunter, and others, also took part in the proceedings - each speaker bearing testimony to the character of Mr Graham, for his uprightness and integrity. Mr Graham carries with him not only the good wishes of the few who met with him on this occasion, but of many others besides, that his success and hopes in the land of his adoption may be fully realised. We understand that Mr Graham intends devoting himself to farming, which was the occupation he followed in his earlier years in this neighbourhood.¹⁰