183 



and concluded that the difference between them was chiefly 

 in their respective origins and ecclesiastical traditions, and 

 not in any essential variance respecting matters of doctrine 

 or discipline, which will account for the rapid and complete 

 union of the two colonies in all ecclesiastical matters, and 

 for the harmony with which both labored to build up a 

 church system which was peculiar, and which combined in 

 some measure the characteristics of the of the politics of the 

 three great classes of dissenters ; the Presbyterians, the 

 Erastians, and the Independents of Old England. (See Hist. 

 Coll. of Institute, iv : 145.) 



F. W. Putnam gave a brief outline of the Animal King- 

 dom, with especial reference to the principal elements that 

 mark the Branch, the Class, the Order, the Family, the 

 Genus, the Species, and Variety. He also explained the 

 mode of instruction in Zoology adopted by Prof. Agassiz at 

 his school in Cambridge, and proposed to adopt a similar 

 course, so far as circumstances will admit, with the class of 

 young pupils which he was then about forming at the rooms 

 of the Essex Institute. 



The chair presented to the society the lancet case formerly 

 belonging to the late Dr. Micajah Sawyer of Nevvburyport, 

 in behalf of Dr. Stevens of New York, announcing the 

 same with appropriate remarks on the character of Dr. Saw- 

 yer and his distinguished patient the Rev. George Whitfield. 



Donations were announced as follows : 



To the Library from Samuel G. Drake of Boston ; Pea- 

 body Institute of South Danvers ; American Philosophical 

 Society; Canadian Institute at Toronto; H. M. Brooks ; J. 

 J. Rider ; Miss Lydia Pope ; Geo. F. Read ; N. Silsbee ; J. 

 Perley, Jr. ; L. Bemis of Boston ; H. F. Shepard ; R. H. 

 "Wheatland. 



To the Cabinets Chas. B. Elwell ; C. Cooke ; W. L. 



