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Cape Ann, and exhibited the original charter of the Colonists. This 

 charter or original indenture was made the first day of January, 1623, 

 between Lord Sheffield on the one part, and Robert Cushman and Ed- 

 ward Winslow, themselves and associates, on the other part, assign- 

 ing land at Cape Ann for a fishing colony. J. Wiugate Thornton, Esq., 

 of Boston, who presented this valuable parchment document to the 

 Institute some two or three years since, has ably shown in his work 

 entitled "The Landing at Cape Ann," that Massachusetts begins her 

 history not at Salem, nor under the patronage of the organization 

 which obtained the charter of March, 1627-8, but in the spring of the 

 year 1624, at Cape Ann, where the colony was established under the 

 authority of this, her first charter, and that Roger Conant, the 

 leader of this settlement, was the first Governor. 



Mr. Goodell also read a letter from Mr. Thornton, in which he 

 says : 



" The labor of ROGER CONANT was, in its time, obscure, so is that 

 of the architect ; yet, if the latter be memorable in the grandeur of 

 the Cathedral, should not the glory of this living temple, the Com- 

 monwealth, awaken veneration for Conant, who ' conceiving in his 

 mind ' the grand thought of a colony ' on account of religion,' and 

 willing to begin' would 'not desert' it in the day of extremity, but 

 as leader of the forlorn hope ' waited the Providence of God,' and s?w- 

 cec.ded as we now testify ! What higher conception, what nobler ori- 

 gin, could we wish for our Commonwealth ? And shall not truth and 

 gratitude cherish the memory of him whose generous mind 'con- 

 ceived,' and whose mighty Christian faith effectually opened the way 

 for succeeding generations? Tracing back the historical links of the 

 Commonwealth we find the first in the hands of Roger Conant. If the 

 record be at all faded by time, it is our grateful duty to renew it." 



Hon. John J. Babson, of Gloucester, was called on and made some 

 interesting remarks concerning the history of the town. He thought 

 it remarkable that over one hundred and twenty years should have 

 elapsed after the discovery of America before any prominent point 

 from Monhegan to Cape Cod should be discovered. It was one hun- 

 dred and ten years after the voyage of Columbus before Cape Cod was 

 discovered, and twelve years afterwards, Capt. John Smith, with eight 

 men, coasting along the coast, discovered Cape Ann, and named it 

 after a Turkish damsel who befriended him in his distress, Tragabig- 

 zanda. It seems strange that twelve years should have elapsed after 

 Plymouth was discovered before they should have known anything of 

 this excellent harbor just across the bay. It is not wonderful at that 

 season, that they should have found Plymouth, but had they coasted 

 around the bay at all, and discovered this harbor, so much better for 

 all their purposes, they would have settled here. I do not doubt that 

 the original settlement of the cape was the result of an accident. The 



