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read the following Letter and Instrument of Trust by Mr. Peabody, 

 and the reply of the Trustees. 



MR. PEABODY'S LETTER. 



SALEM, MASS., Feb. 26, 1867. 

 To FRANCIS PBABODY, Esq. ; Prof. ASA GRAY ; WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT. 



Esq. ; GEORGE PEABODY RUSSELL, Esq. ; Prof. OTHNIEL C. MARSH ; 



Dr. HENRY WHEATLAND; A. C. GOODELL, jr., Esq.; Dr. JAMES R. 



NICHOLS ; and Dr. HENRT C. PERKINS : 



GENTLEMEN, As you will perceive by the enclosed Instrument of 

 Trust, I wish to place in the hands of yourselves, and your successors, 

 the sum of One Hundred and Forty Thousand Dollars, for the PROMO- 

 TION OF SCIENCE AND USEFUL KNOWLEDGE IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX. 



Of this, my native County, I have always been justly proud, in com- 

 mon with all her sons, remembering her ancient reputation, her many 

 illustrious statesmen, jurists, and men of science, her distinguished 

 record from the earliest days of our country's history, and the distinc- 

 tion so long retained by her, as eminent in the education and morality 

 of her citizens. 



I am desirous of assisting to perpetuate her good name through 

 future generations, and of aiding through her means in the diffusion 

 of science and knowledge ; and, after consultation with some of her 

 most eminent and worthy citizens, and encouraged by the success 

 which has already attended the efforts and researches of the distin- 

 guished Scientific Association of which your Chairman is President, 

 and with which most of you are connected, I am led to hope that this 

 gift may be instrumental in attaining the desired end. 



I therefore transmit to you the enclosed Instrument, and a check 

 for the amount therein named ($140,000), with the hope that this 

 Trust, as administered by you and your successors, may tend to ad- 

 vancement in intelligence and virtue, not only in our good old County 

 of Essex, but in our Commonwealth, and in our common country. 



I am, witli great respect, 



Your humble servant, 



(Signed) GEORGE PEABODY. 



INSTRUMENT OF TRUST. 



I hereby give to FRANCIS PEABODY, of Salem ; ASA GRAY, of Cam- 

 bridge ; WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, of Salem ; GEORGE PEABODY RUSSELL, 

 of Salem ; OTHNIEL C. MARSH, of New Haven, in the State of Connec- 



PROCEEDINGS ESSEX INST., VOL. V. 15 OCT., 1867, 



