C5 



by those interested : — the same being accompanied by a letter 

 inscribed on the cover, addressed to the Hon. C. W. Upham, 

 indicating the design and purpose of its maps. 



A letter had been received from the Portland Society of 

 Natural History, announcing the receipt of a copy of the 

 Resolutions, passed at a meeting of the Essex Institute, on the 

 19th of January last ; also a Circular from said Society to all 

 kindred institutions. The following is a copy of the letter : 



^^ Portland Society of Natural History, Feb'y 20, 1854. 

 At the stated monthly meeting, held this evening, Eev. Mr. 

 Chickering proposed the following preamble and vote, which 

 were unanimously adopted, viz : 



The Society having heard with much pleasure the expression 

 of sympathy in our recent loss, from the Essex Institute, and 

 the offers of substantial aid in repairing it, unanimously vote, — 



That the thanks of the Portland Society of Natural History 

 be presented to the Essex Institute, for their kind and encour- 

 aging communication, and that we cheerfully accept their 

 spontaneous and liberal offer, hoping that their beautiful and 

 valuable collections will continue to increase, with no such 

 occasion as we have had to test the liberality of kindred 

 Institutions. Attest: S. B. Beckett, Sec'y." 



Mr. Henry M. Brooks favored the meeting with an account 

 of some ancient MSS. and Papers, illustrative of the early 

 times of Salem. 



Mr. B. having been desired by several persons to give a more 

 detailed account of his investigations among the dingy looking 

 treasures, which he had exhumed, as it were, and rescued from 

 impending destruction, he had selected some, the topics of 

 which might recall to memory familiar names yet extant, or 

 not long passed away. Of these were memoranda and accounts 

 of Col. William Browne, who became a loyalist and left the 

 country — a complete Inventory of his furniture, receipts for his 

 taxes, orders for sale of his pews in the First Church and in the 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. 9. 



