The following Address has been presented to the Reverend Mr. Thomson accompanied by a piece of plate and a purse of Fifty guineas:-

REVEREND SIR, - On the occasion of your retirement from the pastoral charge of the vast part of Melbourne by its division into two parishes, and the appointment of a Clergyman to the newly formed Parish of St. Peters, many members of the Church of England, and others your personal friends, deemed it a proper opportunity to show the estimation in which they hold you, who have discharged the arduous duties of your sacred office among them, single handed, for a period of seven years; and with a view of manifesting and recording their esteem and regard, resolved to present to you a service of plate, bearing an inscription expressive of their feelings, together with the sum of fifty guineas.

These well earned marks of the esteem of your friends we, as appointed by them, have now the very great pleasure of presenting. Accept, Reverend Sir, the expressions of our esteem, and our cordial wishes for the health and happiness of yourself and family, and for the blessing of Almighty God upon your ministerial labours.

To the Reverend Adam Compton Thomson, Minister of St. James Church, Melbourne. This Service of Plate, together with the sum of Fifty Guineas, was presented by Members of the Church of England, and by his personal Friends, who were desirous, on the occasion of his retirement from the Pastoral Charge of St. Peter's, by the division of Melbourne into two parishes, to take advantage of the opportunity thereby afforded them, to express by a Testimonial, their regard and esteem for him, and to record the due sense which they entertain of the arduous duties which devolved upon him for many years, as the only Minister of the Church of England in Melbourne and the surrounding District; of the difficulties with which he had to contend, and of his constant endeavour to preserve, while he laboured for the Truth, "the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace."

          ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIPTIONS


				£	s.	d.

Mr. Charles Payne		1	1	0

Mr. Balbirnie			1	1	0

Colonel Kenny			1	0	0

Mr. Henry Miller		1	0	0

Mr. F. Davis			1	0	0

Mr. Gardener			0	10	0
				______________

			£	5	12	0

Making with the amount of the subscriptions before published, the sum of one hundred and twelve pounds, fifteen shillings and sixpence.

My dear Christian Friends, - I receive with feelings of thankfulness to the God of all grace, this expression of the esteem and regard of so many of those amongst whom I have endeavoured to discharge the duties of the Christian ministry, for a period of above seven years.

Accept for yourselves and all the subscribers to this testimonial, my heartfelt thanks, and my deep sense of the kindness manifested towards me in this mark of attachment and esteem. I wish that my merits bore a greater proportion than they do to the liberality of the numerous subscribers, but I am willing to believe that this their tribute, is a token that my ministrations have not been in vain, or without a blessing, in the large congregation so long under my sole charge. Conscious of my own weakness and inability, I have sought the needful sufficiency - Him from whom it alone proceeds; and if I have been the honored instrument in the hands of the Spirit, for winning souls to the Saviour, or establishing any in the comforts and peace of the Gospel of Christ, there are, and will be, my "crown of rejoicing;" and their salvation will be "unto the praise and glory of God."

Deeply sensible as I am of manifold failings and short comings in the sight of God, and before the great population committed to my pastoral care, I yet can affirm that my constant aim has been to be faithful, and under the divine guidance and help, to approve myself to the consciences of all men; and I am this day greatly comforted to know that God has inclined the hearts of so many towards me in Christian kindness.

The inscription records your sense of the arduousness of the duties devolving upon me, and the difficulties with which I had to contend under all the circumstances of my situation. The duties of my office were indeed onerous, and the difficulties numerous but God graciously helped me and upheld me, in giving me uninterrupted health, and enable me to labour cheerfully in peace with all men.

And the expression of esteem and regard manifested upon this occasion, affords a proof, that under all the difficulties my ministry has been generally acceptable, and my conduct such as to gain the good will of the community. For the kindness shown, I hope ever to entertain a deep sense of gratitude; and my acceptance amongst you is, a cause and ground of unfeigned thankfulness to the God of all mercies, through our Lord Jesus Christ, whose unworthy servant I am in the ministry of the gospel of his graces.

I again heartily thank you and all the subscribers to this testimonial and record of esteem, which will be handed down amongst my dear children, if it please God to spare them to survive me; and I especially thank you for the kind wishes for the health and happiness of my family. I entrust your prayers, and the prayers of all friends, that God would pour down upon me the dew of his blessing, that I may always be enabled to speak the truth in love, to be zealous and faithful, in warning every man and teaching every man committed to my charge in all wisdom, that I may have many seals of my ministry to be at the great day "my glory and my joy."