135 



speedily transformed into a balcony where young and old 

 gathered to listen. The meeting was called to order at 

 2.30 p. M. The President in the chair, records of the 

 preceding meeting were read by the Secretar}^ The 

 President congratidated the Institute, that, under such 

 favorable auspices, another tield day is held in this good 

 old town and with so large an attendance. He then briefly 

 alluded to the previous meetings held in this and the ad- 

 joining town of Groveland, which was known as the 

 East Parish of Bradford, when the first meeting was held 

 in that place. He spoke of the early explorations of the 

 J\lerrimac river, particularly the one under the direction 

 of Simon "Willard and Edward Johnson, connnissioners, 

 in 1652, John Sherman and Jonathan Ince the surveyors, 

 to ascertain the nortliern boundary of the colony of the 

 jMassachusetts Bay, as stated in the charter, three miles 

 north of the northernmost point of the Merrimac river. 

 This was a mooted question for m:uiy ^ears, and it was 

 not finally adjusted until the appointment of a commis- 

 sioner in 1737, who determined that the northern boun- 

 cLuy of the Massachusetts line should be a line three 

 miles from the mouth of the river at Xewburyport, thence 

 parallel with the river as far as the Pawlucket Ealls, 

 thence west to the New York line. In 1 740, His Maj- 

 cst}^ by the concurrence of the council, adjudged and 

 ordered this line as the northern boundary. lie then 

 called ui")on Dr. Georijfe Coirswell, the host, who had C'cn- 

 erously and handsomely provided so many good and 

 pleasant thinij^s for this meetino-. 



Dr. Cogswell spoke of the pleasure he experienced 

 in welcoming the members of the two societies to his 

 farm, and said that he was thoroughly in accord with the 

 objects and aims of such meetings as this. He also 



