141 



there is the phonograph, by which the vibrations of the 

 voice may be recorded and utterances preserved from 

 generation to generation. What shall we say of the 

 tasimeter, which measures the temperature of the most 

 distant bodies whether they are luminous or not? 



Don't you think the prophet Daniel foresaw our day, 

 when he "said, "many shall run to and fro and knowledge 

 shall increase"? It has been thought that Isaiah had a 

 glimpse of the locomotive, in his vision of the brethren 

 being brought out of all nations, "upon horses and in 

 chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift 

 beasts." He found no animal for comparison when in his 

 vision he saw the train dashing along, so called the loco- 

 motive "the swift beast." 



If we should be spared to meet another year, we may 

 have still greater discoveries to record. But I must not 

 forget my flowers. A lady has just handed me two speci- 

 mens : Clethra alnifolia, sweet pepper bush, and Rubus 

 odoratus, sweet scented bramble. These are well worthy 

 of cultivation for their sweet perfume and beautiful flow- 

 ers. Among those I have collected myself on the banks 

 of the Merrimac, and those laid on the table, I find wor- 

 thy of notice : Platanthera psy codes, purple f ringed or- 

 chis; Teucrium Canadeuse, germander; Lysimachia stricta, 

 loosestrife; Mimulus alatus, winged monkey flower ; Lobe- 

 lia inflata, Indian tobacco. I also found an English emi- 

 grant which I was not aware had found its way over, 

 Campanula rotundifolia, harebell. This flower is found on 

 the English and Scotch moors, growing among the heather. 

 It has, like many more, bettered its condition by change 

 of country ; in its native place it is only a few inches 

 long ; some of the specimens I have collected to-day mea- 

 sure fully three feet. At one of your meetings last year 

 I named other emigrants : Genista tinctoria, wood waxen; 



ESSEX INST. BULL. X 11 



