bers, making it necessary to prepare a permanent place of deposit. Among the valuable manuscripts presented to the society in these early years may be mentioned a copy of the records of Boston from 1634 to 1660, by Mr. Thomas, the letter-book of Cotton Mather, and the journal of Rev. Increase Mather, president of Harvard College in 1685, by Mrs. Hannah Crocker of Boston. About nine hundred volumes from the library formerly belonging to Drs. Increase and Cotton Mather were also added to the society's collections.

In 1817, active measures were taken to procure funds to defray the expense of erecting a building for the library and cabinet, by appointing committees to solicit subscriptions. The building erected, situated on Summer Street, in Worcester, was of brick, thoroughly built, and, at the time, considered well adapted to the purposes for which it was intended.

In February, 1819, a committee appointed to prepare an address to the members, setting forth the society's objects and condition, declare the institution to be, in all its concerns, national, although it derives its charter and its national appellation from the Legislature of Massachusetts.

In the earlier days of the society, it was the custom, besides having councillors from the several States of the Union, to appoint gentlemen of learning and prominence in each State to act as agents or receivers in collecting articles for the library and cabinet. Among those acting in this capacity in 1819 may be mentioned the names of Governor Plumer of New Hampshire, Professor Silliman of Connecticut, Stephen Van Rensselaer and Dr. J. W. Francis of New York, Timothy Alden and Matthew Carey of Pennsylvania; William Gaston of North Carolina, Langdon Cheeves of South Carolina, and other gentlemen of standing and influence. As might be expected, the result of this extended system of collecting was, that contributions of books, pamphlets, and relics of various kinds were forwarded to the society from all parts of the country. Many Indian relics, utensils and weapons thus found their way into the cabinet, which are now of the greatest interest to the student in archæology.

Regular meetings of the society are held twice a year, the annual meeting for the choice of officers being held in the month of October, at their hall, in Worcester; and the semi-annual meeting in Boston, at the rooms of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, in the month of April.

In 1853, a new hall was completed for the accommodation of the rapidly increasing library.

The Hon. Stephen Salisbury, now the president, has, in a measure, anticipated the need of increased accommodations, and presented, besides a lot of land in the rear of the present building, a sum, now

amounting to $12,600, for its future enlargement, which is contemplated at an early day.

By the provisions of the by-laws adopted in October, 1831, the number of American members can at no time exceed one hundred and forty, there being no limit to the election of foreign members.

The aggregate of the several funds of the society is over $80,000. The library of the society now numbers over sixty thousand volumes, representing most departments of literature, and is especially rich in early American publications. Included in the number of volumes are over four thousand newspapers, from the "Boston News Letter," the first number of which was issued April 24, 1704, to those of the present time. This department of the library is very full, and includes many volumes of papers published in the last century. It is being constantly increased, and bids fair to contain, if it does not already, the largest collection of newspapers in the country.

The collection of manuscripts is large and of great value and interest, including some of a very early date. Although they have not been catalogued, most of them are so arranged that they can be consulted with comparatively little trouble. Among the more valuable specimens in this department are the Mather manuscripts, written by various members of that family, so prominent in the early history of Massachusetts.

The cabinet of Indian and archæological specimens includes many of interest to the antiquary. The specimens of Indian weapons and implements are carefully arranged in cases, and can readily be examined.

The society's hall also contains portraits in oil, busts and statutes.

THE ESSEX INSTITUTE.

The institute was formed by the union of the Essex Historical and the Essex County Natural History societies, and was organized under a charter granted in February, 1848, with three departments: History, Natural History, and Horticulture.

The Essex Historical Society was incorporated in 1821, for the purpose of collecting materials for the civil and natural history of the county of Essex. Among its first members were Edward Augustus Holyoke, Joseph Story, Nathaniel Bowditch, John Pickering, Nathaniel Silsbee, Leverett Saltonstall, Ichabod Tucker, Benjamin Merrill, and others equally distinguished. It was organized mainly through the

efforts of the late George A. Ward.

The Essex County Natural History Society was incorporated in 1836, for the purpose of promoting the science of natural history, and

numbered among its first members Andrew Nichols of Danvers, William Oakes of Ipswich, and Dr. William Prescott of Lynn.

In February, 1870, an Act in addition to the Act of incorporation was passed by the Legislature, enlarging the powers of the institute so as to include among its objects the promotion of the arts, science, and literature in addition to those of the original societies. At the annual meeting following, a fourth department was instituted, that of "Fine Arts."

Its library, which, at the time of the union consisted of about one thousand five hundred volumes, besides a few pamphlets and newspapers, now numbers nearly thirty thousand bound volumes and about one hundred thousand pamphlets, exclusive of duplicates, embracing all departments of literature.

Its museum contains a large collection of antiquarian and historical relics, paintings, engravings, medals, coins, paper currency, etc., which are placed in Plummer Hall. The scientific portion is deposited with the trustees of the Peabody Academy of Science, in conformity to an agreement made in May, 1867. At the time of its removal, the collection contained over one hundred and twenty-five thousand specimens in the departments of ethnology, zoölogy, botany, mineralogy, and geology, scientifically arranged, and in good part labelled and catalogued.

Its publications are: the "Proceedings of the Essex Institute," six volumes, 8vo; "The Naturalist's Directory;""The American Naturalist," vol. 1 (afterwards transferred to the Peabody Academy of Science); "The Historical Collections of the Essex Institute," eleven volumes; "Bulletin of Essex Institute," five volumes. "The Historical Collections" and the "Bulletin" are regularly issued.

Of the high rank which these publications hold in the list of similar works throughout the world, it is only necessary to state that the institute has established a regular system of exchange with over two hundred of the most prominent societies.

Its rooms are in Plummer Hall, Salem, so called in honor of Ernestus Augustus Plummer, whose sister, Miss Caroline Plummer, cherishing his memory, and directing that her gift should be made in his name, bequeathed to the proprietors of the Salem Athenæum the sum of $30,000 to be expended in the erection of a suitable building for the purpose of depositing the books belonging to said corporation, with liberty also to have the rooms thereof used for meetings of any scientific or literary institutions, or for the deposit of any works of art or natural productions.

Its objects may be briefly summed up in three items: 1. The collection and permanent preservation of all materials relating to the civil and natural history of the county of Essex. 2. Aid in the

education of any of the inhabitants of Essex County in any branch of history, science, art or literature. 3. The general promotion and diffusion of historical and scientific knowledge.

To attain these ends, public meetings are held throughout the county every summer for scientific and historical investigation and discussion. Evening meetings for the same purpose are regularly held during the winter at the rooms of the institute. While these meetings were started for educational purposes simply, experience has shown that they are of inestimable value as a means of promoting friendship and social feeling between the inhabitants of different parts of the county. There are also stated meetings on the second Wednesday of February, May, August and November, at three o'clock in the afternoon. The meeting in May is the regular annual meeting. The institute also gives courses of scientific and other lectures and series of concerts during the winter months, and horticultural exhibitions during the summer and autumn.

With the exception of a few small bequests and donations, amounting to about $8,000, the institute is dependent for its support on the yearly assessment, which is $3, payable at the annual meeting; or any member, in lieu of the annual assessment, may pay the sum of $30.

There are now about four hundred and eighty resident members, of whom about one hundred reside in other places than Salem; also a number of corresponding members not residents of Essex County.

ANDOVER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

This institution is an outgrowth of Phillips Academy in the same town, and was contemplated in the original design of the founders of the Academy, which was established April 21, 1778, by Hon. Samuel Phillips of Andover and John Phillips of Exeter. These benefactors transferred to a board of twelve trustees a property consisting of one hundred and forty-one acres of land, with the buildings thereon, in Andover, and two hundred acres in Jaffrey, N. H., besides £1,614, or $5,830, "the income to be forever appropriated and expended for the support of a public free school or academy in the south parish of Andover."

An Act of incorporation was granted October 4, 1780, and suitable buildings erected for the accommodation of students, recitation-rooms, etc.

In conformity with the design of Hons. John and William Phillips, the trustees of Phillips Academy, in June, 1807, obtained liberty from the legislature "to receive and hold donations for the purpose of a theological institution."

Mrs. Phebe Phillips, the widow, and John, the son, of LieutenantGovernor Samuel Phillips, obligated themselves to erect two buildings, -one for the accommodation of students, the other for the steward.

Samuel Abbott of Andover gave $20,000 for maintaining a professor of Christian theology, and, March 21, 1808, Moses Brown, Esq., and Hon. William Bartlett of Newburyport, gave, the former $10,000 and the latter $30,000, and Hon. John Norris $10,000, for the support of two professors.

The institution was opened in October, 1808, with thirty-six students for the first year.

The Seminary buildings, now five in number, crown a highland commanding fine views of the surrounding country. The faculty consists of seven members, and there are several special lecturers from year to year.

The Seminary is open to Protestants of all denominations, with a course of study of three years; prominence being given, in the first to the Scriptures, in the second to theology, and in the third to church history. The library contains thirty thousand volumes. Tuition and (to undergraduates) room-rent is free. The number of students, as appears by the last catalogue, is, seniors, twenty-three; middle class, twenty-one; juniors, fifteen; special course, five.

The whole number of alumni is 1,746.

The Endowment Funds amount to $525,000. The buildings have cost $240,000.

THE NEWTON THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTION Was established under the auspices of the Baptist denomination. Its origin may be dated from a numerous meeting of ministers and private brethren from various parts of New England, held in May, 1825, at the vestry of the First Baptist Church in Boston, who pledged themselves to use every exertion towards the founding of the desired institution.

The charter was granted by the legislature and accepted by the trustees March 13, 1826, and the Rev. Irah Chase duly elected Professor of Biblical Theology. At the same meeting a committee of finance was appointed, but funds for the support of the institution were received slowly until 1832, when $20,000 had been raised towards the support of the two professors who had been then appointed. Another professor was appointed in 1832, but the means for the sup port of the institution were insufficient until March, 1852, when it was voted to raise $100,000 by subscription, which amount was soon raised, the trustees alone pledging $35,000. The endowment being still unsatisfactory, after the discharge of debts, it was voted, in December,