108 BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



preservation and display, and are a good deal consulted 

 by descendants of the famous merchants whose signals 

 they depict. The first half of the next volume for 1898, 

 numbered Volume xxxiv, is in the hands of the printer 

 and is nearly ready. 



Two courses of lectures have been sustained throngh- 

 out the winter, of the quality of which I need say noth- 

 ing. Every Monday evening, from January third to 

 April twenty-fifth inclusive, has been profitably and agree- 

 ably employed in listening to these varied productions, 

 some of which have been printed. To the lecturers and 

 speakers, as well as to the Peabody Academy of Science 

 which has generously placed its hall at our service on 

 several occasions, no well wisher of the Institute can fail 

 to feel a sense of profound obligation. The Salem 

 Lyceum pays a graceful tribute to the value of this work 

 by making us its heir. 



In August next, at the Institute's invitation, the Amer- 

 ican Association for the Advancement of Science will 

 visit Salem. It has done so twice before. Like the 

 Institute it has lived fifty years and the golden jubilee 

 has been marked by its choice for president this year of 

 one of the most distinguished sons of Salem, a protege 

 of Dr. Wheatland and long-time officer of the Institute. 

 Great expectations are indulged as to this visit. A large 

 local committee has been named and eveiy Institute mem- 

 ber will feel personally pledged for the success of the 

 occasion. 



Finally, it is worthy of note that two wills have been 

 ofiiered for pr()l)ate this year in which the Institute has 

 an interest. The first is that of George Plumer Smith, 

 of Philadelphia, a member since 1882, when the Institute 

 had no home but Plummer Hall, a constant visitor and 

 correspondent, and a very active contributor in a variety 



