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place were well scrutinized by those who seldom neglect a 

 fair opportunity. 



The refreshments of the day were served in rustic style in 

 the grove, alter which, resorting to the Town Hall, the 

 afternoon exercises were opened, Vice President S. P. Fow- 

 ler in the chair. 



Records of preceding meeting read and donations from 

 the following were announced : 



To the Library from Mrs. Andrew Nichols ; Department 

 of the Interior ; John B. Alley, M.C. ; John Robinson ; 

 George F. Read ; Zoologische Gesellschaft, Frankfort, A.M.; 

 American Philosophical Society. 



To the Cabinets from W. S. Daland ; C. H. Norris ; 

 George Goldthwaite ; Samuel Preston ; Israel T. Howe ; 

 Joshua P. Haskell of Marblehead ; J. J. Rider. 



Letters were read from E. Everett of Boston ; Trustees of 

 Newburyport Public Library ; Department of the Interior ; 

 D. F. Weinland, Frankfort, A.M. ; C. M. Tracy of Lynn. 



In his opening remarks, the Chair took occasion once more 

 to urge on those present the importance of preserving the 

 local and civil history of our community by the preservation, 

 of all documents, regarded, perhaps, as worthless, while still 

 possessed of intrinsic value. Of this nature, all old wills, 

 contracts, depositions, records and books of account, may be 

 mentioned as worthy of prime regard. Likewise all old 

 books ; the older and more marked by the pens or pencils of 

 the former owners, the better ; and every pamphlet, news- 

 paper and old letter ; all should be carefully saved, for no 

 one knows how much there may be in one or other of them 

 for the good of those who are to come after us. It is the 

 business and pleasure of the Essex Institute to be the treas- 



