146 



The missing part of the relic will be sought after, from 

 time to time, though I think with but little prospect of 

 success, as the fracture has also the appearance of age, 

 and the fragment may have been destroyed or carted off 

 years ago. A small portion of the surface within the 

 circle and near the line of fracture has been removed, 

 and suggests the idea of its having been broken and aban- 

 doned, when it had reached its present stage of comple- 

 tion. The relic is now in my possession, and I regret to 

 add, that in splitting it off from the main body, it was 

 broken into several pieces, although fourteen holes were 

 drilled for its accomplishment. The fragments are now 

 joined, and the whole embedded in plaster. 



A reasonable conclusion is, that it was intended for a 

 large mortar, but ruined in the process. It is particularly 

 interesting as a relic, on account of showing plainly the 

 method adopted in hollowing out these vessels, as also, 

 its remarkable size and correctness of outline. The sur- 

 face in which this circle is wrought was originally coated 

 with a silicious fi'm, a large portion of which still remains. 



Moulds will immediately be prepared, for furnishing 

 casts of this relic at reasonable prices. 



Mr. PUTNAM remarked on the importance of this relic 

 as showing how the large stone vessels, or "mortars," as 

 they are generally called, were made. 



Mr. CALEB COOKE announced the donation of several 

 interesting historical relics to the cabinets, including a 

 pair of antique andirons and a chafing dish from Mr. 

 William Russell, of Salem. 



Mr. Cooke also mentioned that Mr. Charles H. Foster, 

 of Salem, during his recent visit to Australia, had, with 

 much care and attention, made a very valuable collection 



