History of the Fife Pitcairns

224 THE FIFE PITCAIRNS.
from amongst us without assuring you that, wherever you may be
placed, there you will be attended by our warmest wishes for your
welfare, and our best thoughts will be constantly employed upon
you.
Permit us to offer you, as a small token of our regard, a piece
of Plate value one hundred guineas, to commemorate your resi-
dence amongst us, the recollection of which will be deeply
graven on our hearts ; and we trust you are assured of our being
with the truest esteem, — Your affectionate friends and humble
servants, The Inhabitants of Athlone and its vicinity.
(Sgd.) Castlemaine, Chairman.
Dr James Pitcairn's Answer to Address presenting
Service of Plate.
Cork, Aug. i$t/i, 1816.
My Lord, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your Lordship's letter of the nth, containing an address from the
Town and vicinity of Athlone, couched in language that will ever
make a deep impression on my heart, overrating the services
which were dictated only by a wish to serve my poor neighbours,
so far as my feeble powers would admit, during my leisure from
my official duties ; and however gratifying the task may have been
to my feelings, it is doubly recompensed in those expressions of
regard and affection which you have done me the honour to be
the organ of, and which I assure your Lordship are truly reciprocal.
The splendid token of their esteem I shall ever preserve as the
most valued gift that could be bestowed, and shall hand it down
to my children, as a memento of the happiest period of my life,
which has been passed with much serenity of mind, and more
flattering attentions from a large circle of friends in Athlone and
its vicinity, than any merits of my own could entitle me to.
With these impressions I need not add, how painful my separa-
tion has been from my friends, whose hospitality and kindness I
have for so many years experienced, and whose welfare and happi-
ness I shall always feel the deepest interest in.
I cannot omit this opportunity of thanking your Lordship for the
truly gratifying manner you have communicated the above Address,
thus adding one more to the many proofs of regard which I have
had the honour of receiving from yourself, and your family.
Believe me, my Lord, under all circumstances your Lordship's
very faithful and obliged servant, J. Pitcairn,
D. Inspector of Hospitals.
To the Rt. Hon. Lord Castlemaine,
Maydrum Castle,
Athlone.