5S Proceedings of (lie Essex Institution, Salem, 



"Field Meeting at Topsfiekl, an exploration of the ponds, streams 

 and woods, such as the extreme heat would permit, having been 

 made by several members in the forenoon, a session was held at 

 3*0' clock in the Hall of the Academy." Another runs. "Field 

 Meeting at Danvers. A very warm day, ending in a thunder- 

 shower and much rain. The morning was spent in examining the 

 woods, near the residence of Wm. A. Lander, to whose hospitable 

 reception and welcome to his grounds the party were greatly 

 indebted." Why may we not have such meetings in Montreal ? 

 We surely do not lack either enthusiasm or scientific knowledge 

 to render them both interesting and profitable ? A day spent 

 upon our Mountain by an intelligent band of explorers, such as 

 we might muster, could not fail to be both healthful and profit- 

 able. Another on St. Helen's island, or at Isle Jesus, or Bel ceil, or 

 among our quarries, or fifty other places, would be also delightful. 

 To such excursions many merchants and professional men would 

 we doubt not, be allured from the toils of their daily work. They 

 would be sure to get their bodies refreshed, and their knowledge 

 of places, persons and things greatly enlarged. 



Many of these papers contained in the " Proceedings" of the 

 Essex Institute are of much value. They are remarkably weU 

 edited. The style in which most of them are written is very pure 

 and good ; we say much when we say that it is English of a good 

 type. We might expect this from Massachusetts, and from a city 

 that lies under the literary shadows of Boston. It is so pleasant 

 to find American writings free from national and provincial cor- 

 ruptions that we cannot avoid marking this excellency in these 

 "Proceedings" and appending to it our note of admiration. 



The Historical and Scientific lore which the volume contains 

 is considerable. We would especially instance as valuable the His- 

 torical paper by S. P. Fowler of Danvers, embracing an elaborate 

 and minute account of the life, character, &c. of the Rev. S. Parris 

 of Salem village, and of his connection with the Witchcraft de- 

 lusion of 1692. This Biography extends over nineteen closely 

 printed pages, and is of deep interest. It portrays the character 

 of a learned, laborious, and withal sagacious divine. It depicts 

 also the characteristics of the people among whom he lived, and 

 the rise of the curious delusion into which they were drawn by 

 the crafty, the wicked and the credulous. 



Another paper, of much botanical interest, was read before the 

 Institute by the Rev. I. Russel, being a review of a book entitled : — 



