206 



kept by liis father, while one of a party of four Salem gentlemen trav- 

 elling west on a business expedition, some fifty years ago. The great 

 difference in modes of travel at that period and now was well por- 

 trayed, and exhibits the very wonderful advance that had been made. 

 The party sailed to Baltimore in the schooner "Angler," Capt. John 

 Shillaber ; and on arriving there, waggons were chartered in which to 

 cross the mountains to Pittsburgh. The mode of conveyance down 

 the river in a sort of raft called an "ark," with accompanying inci- 

 dents was alluded to. The largest steamboats in use at that time 

 were four hundred or five hundred tons, and were mentioned in the 

 Journal as of wonderful magnitude. The return ti'ip occupied twen- 

 ty-five days of horseback travel from Athens. It can now be accom- 

 plished in two. 



A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Kimball, and a copy requested for 

 publication. (Printed in Historical Collections of the Institute, Vol. 

 VIII.) 



The Chair stated that since our last meeting Mr. W. P. Upham had 

 found in the Court House the Records of the Court of Common Pleas 

 during the time of Gov. Andros, and other ancient papers supposed 

 to have been lost, and spoke of the importance to our history of the 

 finding of these scattered links. He also gave some account of the 

 complaints against Andros for his oppressive innovations, such as re- 

 quiring persons to take out new deeds to confii^m their titles to estates. 

 Two of these old deeds are in the archives of the Institute, having the 

 large wax seal attached. 



"W". P. Upham mentioned that a copy of the first book of Eecords of 

 Salem had been made, and was placed at the disposal of the Institute, 

 and that a copy of the Record of the Pirst Church in Beverly had also 

 been made, which might be printed at some future time. Mr. Upham 

 hoped to be able, before long, to give a detailed account of the papers 

 referred to by the chair as found in the Court House. Among them 

 was an ancient copy of a part of the Records of the General Court. 



Voted, — That the copy of the first book of Records of Salem be 

 referred to the Publication Committee, with authority to print such 

 portions as may be deemed advisable. 



A. A. Abbott, of South Danvers, and Horatio G. Herrick, of Law- 

 rence, were elected Resident Members. 



I 



