52 



Mr. U. alluded with very strong expressions of gratitude to Mr. S. F. 

 Haven, the accomplished and learned librarian, and his assistant, Mr. 

 E. M. Bai-ton, for their kind and polite attentions in furnishing every 

 facility for the prosecution of his investigations. Several other mem- 

 bers of the Institute have previously had occasion to consult the 

 manuscripts and other documents in that library and have always 

 experienced the same politeness and urbanity. 



Lemuel B. Hatch was elected a resident member. 



Adjourned. 



Bcfjular semimonthly mo.eting, March \^i\\. President in the chair. 

 Mr. F. W. Putnam was appointed Secretarj^ pro tern. The I'eading 

 of the Records was dispensed with. The recent Correspondence and 

 Donations were announced. 



The President read a communication concerning Fire Clubs that 

 have been organized in Salem since 1744. Vide next number. 



Judge Waters followed and mentioned several reminiscences of the 

 olden times in I'elation to this subject, and presented the records of 

 the Relief Fire Club, which was associated June 24, 1803, and was 

 dissolved Sept. 14, 18G0, when it was voted that the balance of the 

 funds, after, paying the debts, be given to the Seaman's Widow and 

 Orphan Association of Salem. This club included many of our leading 

 .citizens among its members. 



An interesting letter was read from the late Judge Story, resigning 

 his membership on his removal to Cambridge to enter upon the duties 

 'of Professor in the Dane Law School. 



Mr. F. W. Putnam exhibited some specimens of Fossils from the 

 Postpliocene of Ashley River, near Charleston, S. C. This deposit has 

 recently attracted the notice of agriculturists and others from its 

 immense beds of superphosphates, large quantities of which have 

 been shipped for its fertilizing properties. 



These specimens consist of vertebra; and ribs of Manatus ; also 

 several large sharks' teeth, probably of the genus Carcharias, and 

 smaller specimens of the tee*"!! of a species of Lamna. 



The institute is indebted to Mr. Wm. R. Cloutman, through whose 

 kindness these specimens have been added to the Museum. 



Mr. A. C. Goodell presented from Mr. S. P. Watson, a collection of 

 minerals from Grafton, N. H. 



The first number of the " Memoirs of the Peabody Academy of Sci- 

 ence," which had been presented to the Institute, was exhibited by 

 Mr. F. W. Putnam. 



A general discussion on printing ensued, participated in by Messrs. 

 Hyatt, Waters, Goodell and Putnam. 



Elizabeth AVheatlaud was elected a resident member. 



Adjourned. 



