54 BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



looked upon, but it seems to me that old Essex, when we consider its 

 early religious, commercial, manufacturing, agricultural and social 

 development, and also bear in mind that it was the birthplace of 

 Rufus Putnam, Nathan Dane and Manasseh Cutler, the pioneers in the 

 settlement of the great West, is well deserving of the title of the 

 Mother of Counties. 



All the towns of the County should help each other in treasuring, 

 most carefully, everything related to their rich history of two cen- 

 turies and a half. 



I was greatly grieved to hear of the sudden death of my friend Mr. 

 Hunt, who, next to Doctor Wheatland, it seems to me has done for 

 the Essex Institute more, in a disinterested way, than any other per- 

 son. Let us try to carry out some of the plans which we know he 

 had formulated for enlarging and extending its usefulness. 



Many of the members of the Institute know that we are greatly in 

 need of more room to display our valuable collections, and it is to be 

 hoped we may be able to raise a sufficient fund to enable us to begin 

 soon to extend the building in the rear by erecting fireproof annexes. 



I feel quite sure that many valuable treasures would be given to the 

 Institute, — valuable and of great interest not only to our own people 

 but to the many strangers constantly flocking to the rooms to acquaint 

 themselves with the many objects of unique historic interest, — if the 

 donors could feel sure that these things would be constantly on exhi- 

 bition and be entirely safe from loss by fire. Sooner or later I expect 

 to give my valuable collection of coins to the society and these, with 

 the considerable addition of our own accumulations, would make, at 

 the start, quite a respectable display in what might be called the coin 

 room. Then we need a room devoted entirely to old family portraits, 

 and Salem is very rich in this direction. Another room might be set- 

 apart to the exhibit of rare historical documents and autographs. 

 Another to old silver, jewelry, miniatures, seals, rings, etc. Still 

 another to old glass and china which has graced, in the olden time, 

 many of the houses of the colonial and commercial periods. I think 

 we should soon fill our newly built fire-proof extension with the con- 

 siderable collections which we have already, stored away and out of 

 sight for want of room, increased by the treasures which are sure to 

 come from many people, as soon as the beneficiaries can be shown that 

 they shall have a safe and fitting habitation. 



Let a committee be appointed to prepare a circular, to be sent out 

 not only to all of the members but to many others, including natives of 

 the town scattered all over the country, who are rich In this world's 

 goods and would, I feel sure, in many cases contribute generously to 

 a fund to be devoted to enlarging our society's building. 



Sincerely yours, 



Francis II. Lee. 



