I had expected to have had the honor of meeting you on this day and at this time; and arrangements were made to render it convenient to yourselves, but it so happened that the bark on which we had taken our passage, as if anxious to arrive at the end of her voyage, and partaking of my feelings, arrived before the time, when your preparations to receive me were not completed. My appearance was, therefore, accidental and unexpected, and as my apology, I would remind you of the saying of the great Poet of Nature, Shakespeare, who says: "Lovers break not hours, Except it be to come before their time." If the lover is privileged to "break hours" and "come before his time," I trust you will accept it as my excuse, and impute it to the ardor of a lover desiring to see the beloved of his soul. Fellow citizens! I had motives of the most cogent nature to inspire me with that feeling, in times past--I trust forever--when my position was anything but what I find it now--at a time when I was in a position of difficulty and danger, I had the gratification to receive testimonials of regard, respect and sympathy from the citizens of Pittsburgh, beyond what I received from any other portion of the United States, my own constituents and the city of Rochester alone excepted. I shall always entertain a feeling of gratitude, belonging to the nature of man, towards the citizens of Pittsburgh, for their attention and sympathy on that trying occasion. I had never flattered myself with the expectation or hope that it should be in my power to personally return them those thanks which were due; but they were indelibly impressed upon my heart--and it is owing rather to accidental circumstances that I now enjoy that satisfaction. During the last summer, I received an invitation to visit a western city, to perform an act solely connected with the promotion of science, and totally separated from politics--I came for the purpose of lending my aid to an object for the advancement and promotion of the happiness of man on earth--for the advancement of knowledge, for which I hope all parties are equally zealous--the laying of the corner-stone for an Astronomical Observatory at Cincinnati. I accepted it, and scarcely had it become publicly known, till I saw in the public papers a call from some of my personal friends in this city, to visit and be received by them on my way to or from the point of my destination. This reached my ears as coming from personal friends; by personal friends I mean those who, during a long life, have approved of my political course and actions. Of personal friends, strictly speaking, I have but few among your number--there are few in your city with whom I have had the honor of a personal acquaintance. For this expression of confidence and this invitation, I felt that gratitude was due from me.