155 



found among a quantity of doubtful character, enough however 

 to redeem those of comparatively little importance. 



Some remarks from several, conversant with the aspects and 

 appearances of fruits, were elicited on the subject of the plan of 

 modelling in plaster or other material, fac similes of valuable 

 varieties, accompanied with all the blemishes and defects caused 

 by insects or fungi, and copied faithfully from nature. 



Monday, Jcmtiarj/ 28, 1856. 



Evening meeting. Hon. D. A. White, President, in the 

 chair. Record, list of donations and several letters of business 

 read by the Secretary. 



Communication from Dr. S. Shurtleffof Westfield, proposing 

 exchanges of specimens, read and put on file. 



Messrs Jillson and Putnam reported the donation of dried 

 skins in fine preservation fitted for mounting of a Pheasant of 

 the island of St. Helena and of the Tropic Bird, Phaeton 

 cethereus, male ; by H. F. Shepard. 



Hon. C. W. Upham presented to the Institute a variety of 

 documents, accompanying them with explanatory and illustra- 

 tive remarks, embracing in his extempore lecture many details, 

 relating to the antiquities and celebrities of this place and of the 

 vicinity. Among the articles, thus exhibited and presented, 

 were a variety of old MSS sermons of difierent dates, from the 

 time of Cotton Mather to the Revolutionary age. Several 

 private letters of Deacon Timothy Pickering, the father of the 

 late Timothy Pickering. These letters were made the occasion 

 of a notice at some length of the origin, character and family 

 of Deacon Pickering. 



A variety of documents were presented relating to Captain 

 Jonathan Harraden, one of the greatest naval heroes of the 

 Revolution. A sketch of his history and remarkable achieve- 

 ments were given. 



Some manuscripts of the late venerable John Howard, 



