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portance of true and faithful history. Much as Mr. Prescott 

 had accomplished for us, wc were earnestly hoping for the 

 completion of at least one more great historical work. 



" Viiletur acerba semper et immatura mors eorum qui immortale aliquid paraiit." 



But let us remember that greater than all his works was 

 his own pure, lovely, rich and genuine Christian character, 

 and that death has but set its seal' on this and secured it to 

 us forever in all its beauty and completeness. Let us then 

 turn from the day of his death to that of his birth, and let 

 the 4th of May be adopted as one of our historical anniversa- 

 ries. No where could the observance of this birth day be 

 more useful or awaken more interesting associations. Mr. 

 Prescott was a native of Salem and born on the very spot 

 'where now stands Plummer Hall, the seat of the Essex In- 

 stitute. The noble benefactress too, whose name the Hall 

 bears, was here to rejoice at his birth, as the intimate and 

 life-long friend of his admirable mother. The utility of such 

 an anniversary is alone sufficient to commend its adoption. 

 The right use of the materials of history is even more impor- 

 tant than their collection. The name of William Hickting 

 Prescott will at once suggest the various lessons of instruc- 

 tion on this subject most worthy of annual consideration ; as 

 it will always render the anniversary a delightful one. 

 Very respectfully, 



J). A. White. 



Washington street, Salem, Feb. 9, 1859. 



Thomas Trask, Esq., moved the adoption of the resolu- 

 tions, and, upon rising to second the motion, Jacob Batch- 

 elder, Esq., of the Salem Classical and High School, said : — 



When the announcement was suddenly made of the death 

 of the eminent historian, William H. Prescott, the whole 

 busy thinking life of this land paused at the moment, at first 

 in surprise, and next in sorrow, that the radiant light, which 

 had so long illumined its whole pathway, and permeated its 

 inmost being, had been turned from its wonted abode in this 

 mortal sphere to mingle its beams with the lustre of immor- 

 tal life. 



And now that the sorrowing wail of his surviving kindred, 

 the subdued grief of his more intimate friends and associates, 



