139 



tween Belle Isle and Domino harbor, two cubs were captured and 

 taken to St. John's, Newfoundland. At Domino harbor a bear was 

 shot in the spring of 1803, and the skin obtained by the well known 

 artist, Mr. William Bradford, with, whom the speaker sailed. An 

 intelligent hunter told the speaker that the white, or " water" bear 

 was not unfrequently seen fifty miles south of Hopedale. One was 

 killed there in the winter of 1863, and in the previous autumn their 

 tracks were " abundant." They were very shy and could not be seen 

 in the day time. The last Polar bear seen on the Straits of Belle 

 Isle, near the mouth of the Esquimaux River, was shot about twenty 

 years ago. 



F. W. PUTNAM called attention to the collection of fishes and other 

 specimens from China and Siam, presented by Capt. HUTCHINSON, and 

 spoke of the singular shape of the fins of the goldfish, brought about 

 by the continuation of domestic breeds. 



Quarterly Meeting, Wednesday, November 10, 1869. The PRESIDENT 

 in the chair. 



Records of the preceding meeting were read. 



A letter was read from Dr. A. H. Johnson, tendering his resignatkA 

 of the office of Home and Recording Secretary, owing to prolonged 

 absence from the country. 



Voted, That the Institute accepts, with much regret, the resigna- 

 tion of Dr. Johnson, and tenders to him its sincere thanks for his faith- 

 ful and acceptable services, and the hope that health and prosperity 

 will attend him and his family during their absence from this city. 



Voted, That F. W. Putnam be requested to act as Secretary until 

 the vacancy be filled. 



Hon. CHARLES W. UPHAM addressed the chair as follows : 

 Mr. President, Within a few days an event has occurred which 

 has made a deep impression, the world over. I do not propose, in 

 reference to it, to indulge in any remarks of my own. The voice of 

 individual feeling is not to be heard, until that of public bodies As- 

 sociations of Science and Philanthropy, Institutions of Learning, 

 Municipal Communities, States and Governments has been uttered. 

 It is a circumstance not inappropriate, that this regular quarterly 

 meeting of ours, gives to the Essex Institute the opportunity of 

 being the first to express the sentiments of grateful and solemn 

 appreciation of a memory and example, that will be cherished and 

 honored everywhere through all time. I beg leave to offer the fol- 

 lowing Resolves : 



Resolved, That the Essex Institute participates profoundly in 

 the sensibility with which the intelligence of the death of GEORGE 

 PKABODY is received on both sides of the Atlantic. 



Eesolved, That, by his munificent endowment of the Peabody Acad- 

 emy of Science in this city, he has provided for the perpetual preser- 



