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returned to Ipswich, and found in the Seminary Hall 

 where the baskets had been deposited, well spread tables 

 for the midday lunch. 



At 3 p. m. the afternoon session was held in the Man- 

 ning school building. The President in the chair. Rec- 

 ords read. The President in his opening remarks, 

 spoke of some of the distinguished men in the various 

 professions and callings who had, in the past, originated 

 in old Ipswich, and had made their mark in the places of 

 their adoption ; of the previous meetings held in this town 

 and the vicinity, and of the objects and work of the In- 

 stitute. He said that at these meetings, subjects of his- 

 toric interest, or the finding of specimens of Natural 

 History, and suggestions arising thereupon, are introduced 

 for discussion ; at this time it is proposed to vary the 

 programme, and to speak of some of the chemical pro- 

 ducts of the sea ; salt water and what it contains, and 

 he called upon Prof. Isaac J. Osbun of the State Normal 

 School, Salem, to respond. 



Prof. Osbun, having placed upon the table several 

 agents and reagents, also some apparatus to illustrate his 

 remarks, said : — 



No one can have failed to see in his rambles along the 

 sea shore during the earlier part of the day, tiny, shining 

 crystals covering the rocks where the sea water has been 

 thrown up by the wind and dried away by the sun. Exa- 

 mine these crystals with the microscope, and they will be 

 found to be wonderfully symmetrical in form, quite as 

 much so as the plants and shells and other objects which 

 you have collected to-day from the organic world of life. 

 The power of crystalization is not a whit less wonderful, 

 nor is its action in any respect better understood than the 

 action of the mysterious forces exhibited by living beings. 



