OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 359 



monthly wages usually paid the best stone-cutters, and the man con- 

 sented. Having made the necessary arrangements, he took him to a 

 clothing-store in Salem, obtained him a suitable outfit, then took him 

 into his chaise and brought him to Quincy. Governor Robbins added, 

 that he introduced Mr. Tarbox to several of the principal stone-dealers, 

 and that it was not three months before every stone-cutter in Quincy 

 could split stone with small wedges as well as Mr. Tarbox. Also that 

 this improvement in the working of granite had in a veiy short time 

 the effect to reduce the price to five eighths of its former cost ; that is, 

 that the cost of the dimension stone wanted for the prison, which had 

 before been $ 4.00, was afterwards reduced to $ 2.50, and other granite 

 work in similar proportion. 



I have been thus particular in naming persons and stating circum- 

 stances, in the hope that some persons still live, either at Salem or 

 Quincy, who can throw light on the subject. It would be very extra- 

 ordinary if an art of so much importance should be traced to a source 

 so obscure as poor Mr. Tarbox, who seems to have been hardly con- 

 scious that he was doing anything extraordinary. It may be that this 

 whole narrative rests on some mistake, and that a different origin for 

 this art of working granite may be shown ; if so, it is very desirable 

 that it should be made known to the public. 



Four liuudred and scventy-fouvtli meeting. 



January 10, 1860. — Monthly Meeting. 



The President in the chair. 



The correspondence of the Academy, since the preceding 

 meeting, was read by the Corresponding Secretary. 



Professor Agassiz gave a sketch of the plan upon which he 

 is arranging the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cam- 

 bridge ; viz. in separate faunae, with also an assorted typical 

 collection to illustrate the general systematic arrangement. 



Dr. C. T. Jackson exhibited a specimen of meteorite con- 

 taining olivine or chrysolites, like the celebrated Siberian 

 meteorite of Pallas. The specimen was detached from a 

 large mass, at least five feet in diameter, recently discovered 

 upon the summit of a mountain in Oregon, in the vicinity of 

 Rogue River. Dr. Jackson also exhibited specimens of some 

 other North American meteorites. 



