69 



Ancient Fortifications on the Wabash River, Indiana, and 

 on the iMannnoth Cave of Kentucky and its Inliabitants ; 

 A. C. Goodell, Jr., a sketch of the Legishition of Mass., 

 the Provincial Period, and an account of the Puritan Hol- 

 idays ; Rev, E. S. x\twood, on the Beuinnings and Growth 

 of Language; Dr. A. S. Packard, on Insects Injurious to 

 Vegetation noticed in this vicinity the past season ; J. J. 

 H. Gregory, Esq., of Marblehcad, two lectures on the 

 Result of his Observations (hiring a trip hy rail to Cali- 

 fornia, his visit to Salt Lake City, Yosemite Valley, the 

 Great Trees, etc. ; Hon. J. P. Putnam of the Superior 

 Court, a very interesting and graphic account of the 

 "Passion Play" at Ober-ammergau, which he witnessed in 

 the summer of 1871 ; Mr. S. A. Nelson, of Georgetown, 

 on the Meteorology of the White Mountains ; James Kim- 

 ball, Esq., some account of the Judicial- Oaths in the 

 Colonial Days in the interest of loyalty ; also, an interest- 

 ing sketch of the Ancient Topography of Salem. Mr. 

 James H. Emerton exhibited his Collection of Spiders 

 and explained the system of classification and other inter- 

 esting facts in their natural history. From others, many 

 short communications and brief remarks were presented. 

 The attendance on some of these occasions was very large, 

 and the su])jects under discussion elicited a great degree 

 of interest and attention. 



It may be deemed appropriate in this connection to 

 allude to the lecture on Mt. Washington illustrated by 

 the camera, delivered at the rooms by Mr. S. A. Nelson, 

 and also a series of five lectures, on the Microscope and 

 what it shows us, by our associate. Rev. E. C. Bolles ; 

 these lectures were also illustrated by the lantern with the 

 calcium light, which were very successfully manipulated 

 with the assistance of ]Mr. E. Bickncll. It is to be hoped 

 that lectures with illustrations of this character will be 



