73 



lary attraction in hardened and woody structures of plants was 

 incapable of exhibiting the phenomena of life. This explana- 

 tion was considered satisfactory and interesting. 



The topic of the circulation of the sap suggested some thoughts 

 to Mr. Sidney C. Bancroft, who desired the opportunity of 

 their expression ; and connected with the same subject, the 

 phenomenon of the succession of forests in the difference of 

 species of trees on the same soil. The chair took these queries 

 up in order, and explained them on the various theories former- 

 ly entertained, and by the one, which he considered the most 

 correct, after which, on motion, the Institute adjourned. 



Friday^ December 12, 1856. 



Evening meeting at half past seven o'clock. Rev. John L. 

 Russell, Vice-President, in the chair. 



Records of the preceding meeting read, and donations to the 

 Library announced, from D. Roberts, H. M. Brooks, H. F. 

 Shepard, R. A. McKenzie, and T. A. Neal. 



R. H. Wheatland exhibited a Syngnathus, from the Bank 

 of Quero, presented by Solomon Woodbury, of Beverly. 



The chair presented, in the name of S. B. Buttrick, several 

 plates and charts illustrating the culture of the silkworm, which, 

 at his suggestion, were referred to the Curator of Entomology. 



R. H. Wheatland, of the Committee on the Constitution of 

 the Essex Institute previously appointed, submitted the follow- 

 ing Report, proposing an amendment as follows : — 



Art. II. The number of Curators be left blank ; which 

 was accepted. 



GiLBEET L. Steeeter occupied the greater portion of the 

 evening's session by an historical sketch of the building of the 

 Frigate Essex at Salem, (Mass.), and of her subsequent fate, 

 of which the following is an abstract : — 



The Essex Frigate was built in Salem during the summer of 

 the year 1799, at a spot on Winter Island, on the Neck, a few 

 hundred feet west of Fort Pickering. It is an interesting 

 event in our local history, on account of the zeal and enthu- 



BSSEX INST. PEOCBED. VOL. ii. 10. 



