CXXIII 



May not the Institute hope that its friends and the pa- 

 trons of science will soon give that aid, which is so essen- 

 tial to promote its objects and to continue with success 

 its usefulness in diffusing a knowledge of the works of the 

 Creator and of the History of Mankind ? 



If an addition to our present accommodations and 

 means could be obtained and a number of professional 

 Naturalists, having the charge of the various branches of 

 the department of Natural History, and also several as- 

 sistants in the Library, who, in addition to the ordinary 

 duties could classify and arrange the manuscripts, pam- 

 phlets, newspapers and other materials that appertain to 

 the Historical department, be permanently attached to the 

 institution, much good would be done to the cause of 

 education in our community by well arranged collections 

 and libraries, and also by free lectures illustrating the vari- 

 ous objects of the Institute. Much could also be accom- 

 plished through the medium of our publications in advanc- 

 ing the cause of science, and also of historic research 

 by the continuation of the printing of abstracts of wills, 

 deeds and other documents which are deposited in the 

 offices of the county of Essex, and other materials of an 

 historical nature that may be obtained from various sources. 



Letters were read from : 



Prof. S. S. Parvin, Iowa City; Asst. Surg. B. G. Wilder, 55th Mass., 

 Vol.; W. P. Alcott, Andover; Dr. Wm. Prescott, Concord, N. H. ; J. 

 W. P. Jenks, Middleborougli ; John Jenkins, Monroe, N. Y. ; Eev. 

 Joseph Blake, Gilmantown, M. H. ; Edwin Harrison, St. Louis, Mo. ; Dr. 

 Simeon Shurtleff, Weatogue, Ct. ; W. W. Jefferis, Westchester, Pa. ; 

 W. J. Beal, Cambridge ; L. E. Chittenden, New York; Wm. H. Edwards, 

 Newburgh, N. Y. ; Wm. E. Hall, Boston; Theodore Howland, Sect. 

 Buffalo Soc. Nat. Science; E. Lewis, Jr., Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Chas. N. 

 Hoyt, Providence, E. I.; John C. Trantivine, Philadelphia; Erederic 

 Ware, Cambridge; Edward Norton, Earmington, Ct., relating to the 

 publications : Elihu Hall, Athens, 111. ; Geo. C. Huntington, Kelley's 

 Island, Ohio, relating to the collection of specimens : Prof. S. E. Baird, 

 Smithsonian Institution, on business : E. C. Butman, accepting mem- 

 bership : A. G. Browne, department of the South, relating to the 

 transmission of books for the library : Smithsonian Institution, ac- 

 knowledging the receipt of publications : C. W. Eelt, calling attention 

 to Mr. Perkins' class in Phonography: A. Huntington, declining to be 

 a candidate for the Presidency. 



