90 THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 



have large publication funds, the income of which is suf- 

 ficient to defray the annual expense of publishing. A con- 

 servative estimate of the amount required for carry ing on 

 the ordinary publications of the Institute would be in the 

 neighborhood of $800 annually. For special publications 

 there should be added from five to six hundred dollars 

 more. The more one is acquainted with the work of the 

 Institute in its publications, the broader is one's view in re- 

 gard to theirvalue as afactor in the success ofthelnstitute. 

 Having given up to the Peabody Academy of Science the 

 lineof special natural history research, it isthe duty of the 

 Institute, on its scientific side, to disseminate the Informa- 

 tion obtained by local students in geology, zoölogy, archse- 

 ology and ethnology. This with the hearty Cooperation of 

 its sister society it is striving to do. On the historical 

 side, it should as far as possible furnish a medium for Essex 

 Colin ty historical memoranda. Much could be done in 

 this way if there were funds which could be employed in 

 cop^ing the parish and town records for preservation and 

 publication. The copying of early records of the Town of 

 Beverly would be a very valuable work, and their publica- 

 tion would bring to the treasury some money from neigh- 

 boring towns. The Committee have on hand material 

 enough to complete volumes of both the Bulletin and His- 

 torical Collections, while the Wheatland Memorial Volume 

 is ready for the press as soon as there is money enough to 

 publish it in the style and with the photogravure Illustration 

 which is desired. 



LECTURES AND MEETINGS. 



Monday, Oct. 16, 1893. — A special lecture under 

 the auspices of the society, by Rev. William Henry John- 

 son of Cambridgeport, was delivered in Academy Hall 



