393 



was shared by Messrs. E. P. Robinson and Rev. John H. 

 Campbell of Sangus, and the Chair. 



Edward Franker, Esq, of Saiigus, observed that the trees 

 at the "Parker Place" were always called English Walnuts 

 but he considered them something quite different. He had 

 always known the English nut. England being his native 

 country, and, if these were from seed originally brought from 

 there, he thought they must have degeneriitsd^ as perhaps most 

 imported things do, Englishmen included. 



A large Elm standing |i few rods from the Hall, and 

 known as the "Roby Elm," (from one of the earlier clergy- 

 men of the place) was the subject of some remarks by 

 Messrs. Campbell and Robinson: in continuance of the same, 

 C. C. Coffin of Maiden gave an interesting account of a 

 very large Elm in Maiden, which he and his friend, Moses 

 Gr. Farmer, of Salem, had measured not long since. It 

 bears the name of the "Dexter Elm" and has connected with 

 it many historical associations of great interest. In re- 

 sponse to some statements by the Secretary as to the desire 

 of the Institute to obtain old and curious books and pamph- 

 lets, Mr Cofiin said that the importance of such collections 

 was not generally understood. The historian was often fur- 

 nished from some such source with the fact or circumstance 

 that had long been the missing link in his chronology, and 

 the world had doubtless reaped signal benefit from the pre- 

 servation of such things, when very fevf had dreamed to 

 what they were really indebted. "A last year's almanac" is 

 almost a proverb for a cast off and useless thing ; and yet 

 there is hardly any species of book that can be collected 

 with more of real advantage, especially if the series can be 

 made continuous. The Boston Athenaeum had so far recog- 

 nized the value of old pamphlets as to emj)loy special means 

 to collect them. On such a mission, he, not long ago, pene- 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. VOL. ii. 50. 



