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tuition of the Rev. John Fisk, for the college, where he 

 graduated in 1642, and is the first on the roll of the 

 Salem alumni of Harvard. Afterwards, he went to Eng- 

 land, entered the service of Cromwell, became his Min- 

 ister to the Hague, which office he retained after the 

 restoration, and, from Charles II, received a baronetcy. 

 Marrying Frances, sister of the first Earl of Carlisle, he 

 became united with "the blood of all the Howards," and 

 consequently took a high position amo'ng the leading fam- 

 ilies of the realm. Two centuries pass ; another son of 

 old Salem, born in that part now within the township of 

 Peabody, goes to London, eugages in business, is emi- 

 nently successful, distributes his money by millions in 

 founding a noble charity in London and institutions in 

 this country for the promotion of education and general 

 information among the people, and has tendered to him 

 by the Queen a baronetcy, which he respectfully declines, 

 preferring to remain an American citizen. After his 

 death, two nations, by their representatives, two state 

 governments, several municipalities and various literary 

 and scientific societies and other institutions, united in 

 doing honor to his memory. A parallel probably cannot 

 be found on the pages of history. His remains for a short 

 time were deposited in your Westminster Abbey, but now 

 rest in yonder cemetery, within the limits of this city, 

 and in the immediate proximity to the place of his birth 

 and all the associations of his, early life. 



Notwithstanding, sir, this building and the portraits, 

 books and various relics therein deposited have each a 

 history, and many of the incidents connected therewith 

 have an important historical value, yet the site on which 

 it is erected is not devoid of interest, and is noted not 

 only as the place where Downing lived in early life, but 

 where Prescott first saw the light of day ; and in the 



