320 



urged the importance of so doing, and thus of obtaining 

 plain substantial facts unwarped by the pre-conceived no- 

 tions of the historian, which might be the basis of a future 

 work, by some body who should succeed. The relative 

 value and reliance to be placed upon the newspapers and 

 periodicals detailing alleged facts, were made a subject for 

 his comments. 



The Institute adjourned after having voted to continue 

 these meetings every second and fourth Thursday evening 

 durinor the season. 



Thursday, December 23, 1858. 



Evening meeting. The second evening meeting was held 

 at the rooms at seven and a half o'clock, the Rev. John L. 

 Russell, Chairman. 



The records of the last meeting having been read, the do- 

 nations were announced, as follows : 



To the Library — from the American Antiquarian Soci- 

 ety ; Miss Sarah W. Lander ; Francis Peabody ; George F. 

 Read ; S. A. Greene of Boston ; Massachusetts Legislature ; 

 Joseph Farnum ; Henry M. Brooks ; Jonathan Tucker ; 

 F. H. Lee. 



To the Cabinets — from Richard S. Rogers ; Henry M. 

 Brooks ; Samuel Tufts of Lynn. 



Letters were also noticed from Messrs. J. H. Hickcox 

 of Albany, N.Y.; Simeon Shurtleff of Westfield ; J. L. Wa- 

 ters of Chicago, 111. 



Some questions having been raised at the last meeting, re- 

 specting the spawning of the eel {Anguilla}, and whether 



