136 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY 



of the most eminent mineralogists of that time were Dr. 

 Charles T. Jackson and Mr. Francis Alger. They at- 

 tended the second field meeting of the Institute at Lynn- 

 field, in July, 1849. The serpentine ledges there, like 

 those in Newbury, then gave promise of a rich output 

 of decorative marble. 



It is unfortunate that this promise has not been realized. 

 From an extensive acquaintance with the formation at 

 Newburyport, I am satisfied that the deposit there may 

 yet yield handsome returns for a comparatively small out- 

 lay. 



The name of Dr. Andrew Nichols, of Danvers, early 

 appears among the earnest and intelligent naturalists in 

 the ranks of the Institute. 



In a notice of his death, at the annual meeting, May, 

 1853, hearty testimony was borne to his noble work in the 

 several departments of natural history prosecuted by the 

 Institute. Nothing in the natural world escaped his ques- 

 tioning mind, and his power of imparting the results 

 of his studies was equally felicitous. To him, it was 

 said, we owe a great deal for the development of natural 

 science in this county. 



Dr. William Prescott, of Lynn, afterwards of Concord, 

 N. H., where he died, was another earnest spirit and 

 ready helper. He studied enthusiastically the geology 

 and mineralogy of his neighborhood, and contributed 

 generously of his stores to the cabinets of the Institute. 



I was present at the sale of his collections in Concord, 

 which were very large and rich, but like all such things 

 sold at auctions, suffered a grievous slaughter. 



The Rev. A. P. Chute, of Lynnfield, was another effi- 

 cient worker in these fields. At the several meetings 

 held at that place, Mr. Chute showed evidences of earnest 

 and intelligent work. January, 1856, he made a report 



