THE FIRST HALF CENTURY OF THE INSTITUTE. 7 



Howes made it possible, for the first time, to gather 

 the riches of the Institute under a roof-tree of its own. 

 At that time, we had increased the splendid accumula- 

 tions of the Historical and Natural History Societies by 

 large donations from the private libraries of our first 

 President Judge White, of Colonel Francis Peabody our 

 third President, and of our townsman Augustus Story, 

 as well as by an incomparable store of historic paintings, 

 ancient manuscripts, sea-journals and log-books, and of 

 specimens illustrating the Natural History of Essex 

 County, — curious reminders of the life and manners, the 

 traditions and scientific knowledge of our colonial and 

 commercial eras. For the first time in our history the 

 Institute was able, ten years ago, to display its wealth ; 

 and such was the stimulus imparted to public interest in 

 our pursuits, that our lectures and social evenings became 

 popular, our donations multiplied, and our rate of growth 

 became so great that, as a result, our wall-space and floor- 

 space and shelf-room are exhausted. What to do next is 

 the problem of the hour. Literally we know not whither 

 we should turn. We must have money, — money and a 

 good deal of it. The need is a present one and not a pro- 

 spective one. The practical question is this : Will the 

 friends of the Institute, who have means to spare for ob- 

 jects such as ours, give us a portion of it, or will they 

 see us succumb to plethora and congestion and so die? 

 No room to grow ! What will become then of the zeal 

 and enthusiasm of those friends of a lifetime who take a 

 daily pride in our success? No room to grow ! We have 

 in hand magnificent offers. One of them I am about to 

 read. It is one of four or five of scarcely less interest 

 and importance. It is one of the most splendid offers 

 a museum of history and art could wish to have, — a gift 



