128 BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



at the South Congregational Church, stands almost with- 

 out parallel in parochial history ; Dr. Samuel Worcester 

 of the Tabernacle; Lucius Bolles of the First Baptist; 

 Hosea Ballon of the Universalist Church, one of the fore- 

 most pulpit orators of the time; Dr. George B. Cheever 

 of the Howard Street, or Branch Church, and Joseph Ban- 

 vard of the Second Baptist, now called the Central Bap- 

 tist. John Higginson, Hugh Peters, Nathaniel Fisher 

 and William Bentley, were the four selected for special 

 mention by Mr. Buckham. All of these men were dis- 

 tinguished, each in his own way; Dr. Bentley, perhaps, 

 being the most unique figure of the four. Master of twenty 

 languages, he was often called upon by the Government 

 as an interpreter. He loved the sea and his favorite walk 

 was down the Neck to Juniper Point and the Willows. 



Saturday, Feb. 19, 1898. — An adjourned meeting of 

 the Jubilee Committee was held this afternoon to make 

 further arrangements for the celebration of the fiftieth 

 anniversary. 



Monday Evening, Feb. 21, 1898. — Regular meeting in 

 the Library room. Edward C. Battis, Esq., read a care- 

 fully prepared and exhaustive record of the " Piracy of the 

 Brig Mexican," of Salem, Captain Butman, owned by Mr. 

 Joseph Peabody. This paper is in print in the Historical 

 Collections, Vol. xxxiv, page 41. 



The father of the lecturer, our venerable and respected 

 townsman, Mr. John Battis, now eighty-four years of age, 

 was an able seaman on board the Mexican and, after the 

 lecture, gave a few personal reminiscences. Besides Mr. 

 Battis, there are three other members of the crew still 

 living. They are Capt. John R. Nichols of Salem, born 

 Feb. 19, 1809 ; Capt. Thomas Fuller of Salem, born 

 March 25, 1813, and John Larcom of Beverl} r , born Jan. 



