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pleased to have so many of them present, and while 

 admitting that he was no scientist, he expressed his readi- 

 ness always to aid them, fully recognizing the worthy 

 objects of their respective organizations. Regarding the 

 quarries visited, he humorously remarked, the most that 

 he could do was to explain how the stone was taken out, 

 and to say that "it was for sale at very low prices." He 

 paid, however, an incidental tribute to science, saying 

 that he found they could get the stone out more economi- 

 cally by bringing to bear upon the process the best 

 knowledge and the best machinery. 



Dr. Thomas Con ant. President of the Cape Ann Sci- 

 entific and Literary Association, followed in some remarks 

 in an humorous strain, concerning the natural habits of 

 the clam. He made reference to several Indian relics, 

 which were exhibited to the audience, and gave a brief 

 history of the society, which was formed five years ago 

 this autumn, has one hundred and sixty to one hundred 

 and seventy members, averages thirty at its regular meet- 

 ings and from fifty to one hundred at its field meetings. 

 An interest in scientific subjects was stimulated at the 

 meetings ; also by classes which meet weekly. A mu- 

 seum has been commenced with some excellent specimens, 

 some of which were presented by the United States Fish 

 Commission. He thanked the host for the bountiful man- 

 ner in which he had brought together the two societies, 

 one the oldest and the other perhaps the youngest in the 

 county, to discuss scientific subjects. 



James Davis, Judge of the Gloucester Police Court, 

 spoke of the rocks and ledges and how much they added 

 to the material prosperity of the place. He endorsed the 

 objects of the meeting and paid a deserved compliment 

 to the host on this occasion. 



