from the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, acknowledging 

 the receipt of Publications: from Jonathan Pearson of Schenec- 

 tady, in relation to the publications. 



The Secretary read a communication from D. M. Balch, 

 " On the Sodalite at Salem. ." Referred to the committee on 

 publications. 



F. W. Putnam read a communication from George H. Em- 

 erson of Cambridge. " On Magnetite, and an Unknown 

 Mineral at NahantP Referred to the publication committee. 



Rev. G. D. Wildes spoke of the thoroughly English aspects 

 of several of our olden towns in the County of Essex, noting 

 particularly those of Ipswich, as illustrating to the untravelled 

 eye, the marked features of the English rural town. Probably 

 no County in the State in its local names and physical char- 

 acter is more suggestive of associations connected with the 

 mother land. 



A. C. Goodell Jr., in presenting to the meeting, one of the 

 parts, (viz : the deed to the grantees, Edward Winslow and Robert 

 Cushman.) of the original indenture or patent from Lord Shef- 

 field, of the territory of Cape Ann, which indenture was depos- 

 ited in the archieves of the Institute by J. Wingate Thornton 

 Esq., of Boston, gave a brief account of the dates of the several 

 voyages of discovery, charters and settlements by Englishmen in 

 America ; and specially referred to the earlier grants and char- 

 ters of the planters at New Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay. 



The instrument deposited by Mr. Thornton, bearing date 

 Jan. 1, 1628-4, he declared to be the grant under which the 

 New Plymouth people first laid claim to Cape Ann, and began 

 that series of settlements by fishermen and planters which laid 

 the foundation of this flourishing Commonwealth. 



Mr. Wildes followed Mr. Goodell in some remarks as to the . 

 great value of such documents, and alluded to the care taken of 

 similar articles in the British Museum, mentioning several very 

 valuable historical relics which he had seen in that collection. 



