16 



Rochester, N. Y.; E. S. Morse, Portland, Me.; Alpheus Hyatt, Baltimore, 

 Md.; Dr. G. A. Lathrop, Petrolia, C. W.; Henry D. Aligny, Agent St. Mary's 

 Canal, Michigan Co., Houghton, L. S.; Dr. A. S. Pac*kard, Boston Soc. 

 Nat. History; Bv't. Lieut. Col. H. E. Maynadier, U. S. A., Fort Laramie, 

 Dacotah T.; Dr. Wm. Wood, East Windsor Hill, Ct.; Prof. Theo. Gill, 

 Smithsonian Institution; T. A. Conrad, Philadelphia, Pa.; Prof. S. F. Baird, 

 Smithsonian Institution; Chas. D. Marshall, Cor. Sect. Buffalo Soc. Nat. 

 Sciences; C. M. Tracy, Lynn; Rev. Thos. Morong, Gloucester, Mass.; Royal 

 Society, London; J. E. Hilgard, Asst. U. S. Coast Survey; Dr. M. M. Bagg, 

 Uitca, N. Y.; Mrs. P. A. Hanaford, Reading; Henry A. Smith, Cleveland, 

 Ohio; Andrew Lackey, Marblehead; Trustees of Salem Athenaeum; C. C. 

 Jewett, Boston Public Library; Maine Historical Society; F. B. Meek, Spring, 

 field. III.; Prof. G. C. Swallow, Columbia, Mo.; Prof. Henry James Clark- 

 Cambridge, Mass. 



The Secretary made the following statement. 



In the month of Aiigust, 1859, the Institute received a communication, 

 from the "Exploring Circle" of Lynn, calling attention to the discovery by 

 them, of a very remarkable erratic rock in Lynn Woods, the peculiar charac- 

 ter and position of which rendered it exceedingly interesting to science, while 

 it was very liable to injury from mischievous hands. The cooperation of the 

 Institute was therefore solicited in the effort to give some adequate protection 

 to a work of nature so full of curious interest. A committee of consultation 

 was accordingly appointed ; but various circumstances conspired to hinder 

 the accomplishment of any thing for a long time. Recently, however, 

 the subject appearing to deserve a full examination, arrangements with the 

 Exploring Circle were entered into anew, and on Saturday, April 7th, Messrs. 

 H. Wheatland, F. W. Putnam, Caleb Cook and Benjamin Pickman, met by 

 appointment, Messrs. J. M. Rowell, C. M. Tracy and J. C. Moulton, com- 

 mittee of the Circle, and proceeded to examine the rock in question, 

 It was found to be, indeed, an object of great singularity, and eminently 

 worthy to enjoy the lively attention of those pursuing geological study, par- 

 ticularly that of the drift period, whose relics and monuments lie so thickly 

 scattered around us. Among the multitude of bowlders and erratics of all 

 kinds and dimensions that spread over our hills and valleys, including the 

 remarkable "Ship Rock," now the property of the Institute, we have never 

 examined one that presented such curious and striking features as this ; and 

 it is highly advisable that all proper action should be taken by this Society at 

 once, to secure " Phaeton Rock," as it has been named, for the property of 

 the Essex Institute, and thus prevent its destruction, either by the hand of 

 wantonness, or the more innocent, but equally injurious work of the quar- 

 ryman. A paper upon the subject has been received by the Institute from 

 C. M. Tracy. 



Mr. Tracy's paper was read and referred for publication. 



After some remarks by Mr. Putnam on the subject of bowlders and the 

 drift, the matter was referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs. C. M. 

 Tracy, Benjamin Pickman and Henry Wheatland, to take such action on be- 

 half of the Institute, as they may deem advisable. 



