Cl.ur* XXIII.] Literary Associations, 105 



design of this association is to collect and pre- 

 serve all documents, either manuscript or printed, 

 which have a tendency to throw light on the na- 

 tural, civil, ecclesiastical, or literary history of 

 America. It has already made very large and 

 valuable collections, an important portion of 

 which has been laid before the public *, and it 

 bids fair to be one of the most useful institutions 

 in the country f. 



3. Medical Societies. Prior to the revolution 

 which made the United States fiee and indepen- 

 dent, the physicians of that country aiTorded little 

 instruction or aid to each other. Scattered over 

 an immense territory, seldom called to confer 



were widely scattered, and rapUly falling a prey to the destroy- 

 ing hand of time. He was zealously seconded by judge Tudor, 

 who first proposed the formation of a society for this purpose, 

 and by the rev. Dr. Eliot, who engaged with ardour in the plan> 

 and has been since one of the most active and useful members of 

 the institution. These gentlemen were soon joined, and ably 

 assisted, by the rev. Drs. Thatcher and Freeman, by the honour- 

 able judges Sullivan and Minot, Mr. Wiuthrop, and several 

 others, \A ho were membefs of the association when first orga- 

 nised. 



*■ The historical documents published by the Society amount 

 to seven octa\ o volumes. 



t By far the greater part of the publications made by this so- 

 ciety relate to the history of New England. This has arisen, 

 not from any blamable partiality of the resident members to 

 the history of their own country ; but from tlie negligence of 

 \.\\Qcorresponding\\\cmhe'c?. tomake communications respecting the 

 several states to which tliey belong. It is earnestly to be wished, 

 cither that gentlcjuen of a literary character in different parts of 

 the United States would consider the society in Boston as a na- 

 tional one, and exert themselves to render it more extensively 

 useful ; or, without dehiy, form independent societies for the 

 ^^me purpose, to act ia cooperation with the parent society. 



