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ers travelled many years before the present more convenient avenues 

 to the metropolis were opened. Several of the houses observed this 

 day were built during the seventeenth and the first half of the 

 eighteenth centuries, with the old oaken frames common at that 

 period. They appear strong and substantial, and without doubt will 

 outlast many of those of a more recent construction. These old 

 buildings are always pleasant to behold, the reminders of those early 

 days when our fathers first settled this territory and laid the foun- 

 dation upon which has been reared the present structure of society 

 Avith the various institutions and surroundings. 



Between one and two, p. m., the excursionists having returned to 

 headquarters, found an agreeable repast prepared by the ladies in 

 one of the rooms in the basement of the church, which was enjoyed 

 by all with much satisfaction. 



At half-past two, p. M., the formal meeting was called to order in 

 the vestry, the President in the chair. 



In the absence of the Secretary, Mr. F. W. Putnam was requested 

 to act as Secretai'y for the day. 



The records of the preceding meeting were read and the corres- 

 pondence and donations announced. 



Among the letters was one from Miss Sarah K. Hayes of Haver- 

 hill, accompanying a large and valuable collection of shells, princi- 

 pally fluviatile species from the western states, bequeathed by the late 

 John Barti.ett of Haverhill, who made the collection while a resi- 

 dent in Columbus, Ohio, for many years. 



Mr. A. C. GooDELL jr., of Salem, was called upon, and devoted his 

 remarks principally to the story which attaches to Dungeon Rock, 

 expressing grave doubts whether any pirate's cave ever existed there, 

 and whether such a man as Thomas Veal ever lived. There were no 

 records extant, no evidence to confirm the tradition which attaches to 

 that locality. He had no faith in the stories of buried treasure there 

 or elsewhere. As to the "ancient weapons" found in the rock, there 

 was undoubted evidence that they were of modern origin, and placed 

 there by practical jokers. In reply to a question asked by Mr. S. C. 

 Kancroft of Peabody, he said that his own examinations had con- 

 vinced him that Mr. Marble was blasting into solid rock, and there 

 was nothiug to lead to the conclusion that a cave had ever existed 

 there. Formerly there was a slight opening, and the rock had evi- 

 dently fallen down somewhat, but a cave suflicient for the conceal- 

 ment of any number of men, was almost an impossibility. He drew 

 from these facts a lesson showing the importance of basing all sci- 

 entific investigation upon facts. These should first be secured, and the 

 rest is easy. There is no other way to avoid error and difficulty. 



Mr. S. D. Poole of Lynn, gave an interesting account of Dungeon 



