Ipswich, now inown as Hamilton, who printed, as early as 

 178i, " an account of some of the vegetable productions natur- 

 ally growing in this part of America, botanically arranged." 

 This is considered the first attempt to classify and arrange the 

 plants of this vicinity according to a scientific arrangement. 

 He was the leader of the first expedition that migrated from 

 this part of the country and formed a settlement on the banks of 

 the Ohio — the first in the State bearing that name. He has 

 also been considered one of the movers in the framing of the 

 famous Ordinance of 1787. A memoir of this gentleman's life 

 and labors is now in process of preparation by Rev. E. M. Stone, 

 of Providence, E.. I., formerly of Beverly. The other, William 

 Oakes, was well known as the most distinguished botanist of 

 New England. He selected Ipswich as his place of residence, 

 after the completion of his studies of the law, which profession 

 he soon abandoned for that of Natural History, more particu- 

 larly Botany, which was more congenial to his tastes. It was 

 in these woods, located between Gloucester, Manchester, Essex 

 and Hamilton, v,-here he so frequently wandered in quest of 

 Flora's treasures, and where he devoted so much time and la- 

 bor to ascertain their habits, and where he collected so many of 

 those choice specimens which he preserved with so much care. 

 Many of these he diitributed during his life time, and, since 

 his decease, large selections from his extensive collection 

 have been sent to all parts of the civilized world — thus giving 

 to these woods a world renowned reputation as one of the nat- 

 ural flower gardens of America. 



The present flourishing condition of the Institute was then 

 alluded to, and some remarks made upon the utility of muse- 

 ums, and their uses for educational purposes. 



Donations to the Library were announced from W. R. Gavett, 

 W. H. Prince, Miss E. Carlton, C. H. Hutchinson of Phila- 

 delphia, John H. Neal, Henry E. Pope of Indianapolis, Benja. 

 W. Stone, E. L. Perkins, Boston Mercantile Library Associa- 

 tion, Charles L. Peirson. 



The cabinet keeper, F. W. Putnam, reported that donations 

 ^aad been received, to his department, from John H. Vent, F. 

 "W. Putnam, E. P. Emmerton, R. H. Wheatland, Israel Ward, 



