280 



Dr. Brinton introduced to the attention of the Society a val- 

 uable contribution to the study of the Choctaw language, in 

 the form of a Grammar prepared by the venerable Missionary 

 Byington, recently deceased. His long and zealous labors 

 have resulted in the publication of a list of more than 75 

 works, including the Bible, in the Choctaw language. After 

 four revisions of his Grammar, he was at his death engaged 

 upon a fifth. 



This manuscript, the fruit of 40 years' labor, has been for- 

 warded to Dr. Brinton by Mr. Dana, Mr. Byington's son-in- 

 law, and consists of portions of these five revisions, interlined, 

 and somewhat confused in the order of its subjects, but 

 thrown into two principal divisions, the first of which, on the 

 Orthography of the language, is written out; while the other, 

 on the Parts of Speech, will need to be carefully edited. Mrs. 

 Byington and the other heirs, present it to the Society on con- 

 dition that a committee be appointed to edit it, within a rea- 

 sonable time. Mr. Folsom, a Choctaw gentleman, will soon 

 be in Philadelphia, on a commission to publish the Laws of 

 the Indian Government, and has promised his aid in proof- 

 reading. The Grammar will probably make about 40 pages, 

 8vo., and require a few new t^^pes, obtainable at small ex- 

 pense. The Grammar will be of practical use in developing 

 the civilization of the Tribes, as the language is extremely 

 difficult. It has, moreover, peculiar claims to scientific at- 

 tention ; for the Choctaw, Creek and Chickasaw are affiliated 

 dialects, spoken, at the time of the arrival of Europeans, by a 

 people spread over a great part of the United States, There 

 is no man now living capable of writing, or likely to attempt 

 the construction of a Grammar of either of them. 



A committee consisting of Dr. Brinton, Mr. Lesley, and 

 Prof. Haldeman, of Columbia, Pa., were appointed to consider 

 and report upon the subject. 



On motion of the Secretary, the University of Indiana was 

 placed on the list of corresponding societies to receive a com- 

 plete set of the Proceedings, in answer to a request from Prof. 

 Kirkwood. 



