THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 119 



Institute is largely on the increase and the year may, with 

 propriety, be called a prosperous one. 



FIELD MEETINGS during the past season have been attend- 

 ed with unabated interest. The first, on Thursday, July 7, 

 1887, in the parish of West Gloucester, assembled at the 

 house of Mrs. Maria H. Bray. The members from Salem 

 and Beverly came in an early train ; those from Gloucester 

 and vicinity later in the day. The forenoon ramble in the 

 woods, under the guidance of Mrs. Bray and Mr. John H. 

 Sears, was very pleasant and instructive, this being a very 

 favorite haunt for the botanists, and many fine specimens of 

 somewhat rare species were collected, and being exhibited 

 on the table during the afternoon session, furnished a theme 

 for remarks by Mr. Sears. 



Mr. Sidney Perley of Boxford spoke of the old parish 

 church, and some of the occupants of its pulpit, who Sun- 

 day after Sunday preached to their little flock of worship- 

 pers, alluding especially to the Rev. Daniel Fuller, and 

 gave some reminiscences of the various members of the 

 Fuller family in the different lines of descent. He re- 

 marked upon the small salaries and the hard times the cler- 

 gyman of that period experienced. The other speakers 

 were the President, Dr. Conant, president of the Cape 

 Ann Literary and Scientific Society, and Mrs. Bray. 



The second meeting was held on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 

 1887, at Montserrat, on the grounds of Mr. Henry W. 

 Peabody of Salem, a summer resident of this part of Bev- 

 erly. The forenoon rambles among the hills in that vi- 

 cinity opened many pleasant views, the ocean on one side 

 and the woody hillsides on the other ; and a goodly collec- 

 tion of plants and rocks were obtained for the afternoon 

 session, which commenced at 2.30 o'clock, Vice President 

 Rantoul presiding. Remarks were offered by the chair, by 



