new members; the rent of the lower floor of the Society's building; the sales of the publications of the Society; the sales of the "Life of John Quincy Adams"; the interest on the Peabody Fund; a bond of $1,000; and a note of $1,000.

The books are sold at the Society's rooms. The total sales the past year amounted to $1,881.55, of which $1,000.85 were from the sales of the Lectures delivered before the Lowell Institute.

In 1868, the Society received a legacy of $2,000 from the late Henry Harris, Esq., one-half of which was invested in a Coupon Bond of the Quincy & Palmyra Railroad Co. The remainder has been invested in a Coupon Note of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Co. Both securities bear eight per cent interest, and are free of government tax. No conditions were attached to this legacy; and, if thought desirable, it may be constituted into a permanent fund.

The proceeds of the Peabody Fund, the next year, will be ample to meet the publication of the volume of Proceedings in the press, and a volume of Collections may be printed out of the general funds of the Society.

BOSTON, April 12, 1870.

Respectfully submitted,

RICHARD FROTHINGHAM, Treasurer.

Annual Report of the Librarian.

The Librarian has the honor to submit his Annual Report.

The accessions during the year have been above the average number, and of a valuable character. They may be put under the following heads:

Of the books added, 365 have been given, 78 have been procured by exchange, and 105 bought. Of the pamphlets added, 2720 have been gifts, 313 exchanges, and 8 bought. There have been 64 volumes and 136 pamphlets (duplicates), exchanged. These exchanges have been made, for the most part, with other libraries, and in making them the Librarian has had the sanction of the Standing Committee. By this means books which were wanted for the Library have been obtained, as well as shelf-room, which was equally needed. Of the Society's publications, 17 volumes of Collections, 5 of Proceedings, 4 of Lectures, 2 of the Catalogues, and 3 other volumes have been exchanged. There have been received back into the Library, by exchange or gift, 32 volumes of Collections and 18 numbers, besides 4 volumes of Proceedings. There are now in the Library nearly 19,000 volumes, including the files of newspapers and the manuscripts, and more than 30,000 pamphlets.

During the year there have been taken out 141 books, including 11 pamphlets, and all have been returned. It should be borne in mind, however, that the Library is rather one of reference than of circulation; otherwise the statement of this fact might give a wrong impression of its use.

Mr. Lawrence has continued his gifts, having added, since the last Annual Meeting, 50 volumes and 22 pamphlets, all relating to the Great Rebellion. About one-half of these

were works published at the South during or since the war. The collection in this department is now so full that it is desired to keep it as nearly complete as possible. Every thing is wanted that has even a distant connection with the causes that led to the great and final result. Besides the more formal and pretentious works, the aim is to save funeral sermons, private memoirs, and other publications not widely known or circulated, which relate to persons who took part in the war, whatever section of the country they may have represented in the struggle.

The Librarian refrains from repeating the complaints that have so often been made by his predecessors or himself in regard to the want of shelf-room. Almost every space now available for books is in use, and it will soon be necessary to increase our accommodations. As the Standing Committee have certain changes of the building in contemplation, the Librarian does not enlarge on this subject, which has now become chronic in the annual reports.

APRIL 14, 1870.

Respectfully submitted,

SAMUEL A. GREEN, Librarian.

Report of the Cabinet-keeper for the year ending April 14, 1870.

The Cabinet of the Society has received additions during the past year from twenty-five different persons: otherwise, its condition has not materially changed since the last annual report.

Among the gifts worthy of special mention are a well-executed medal in bronze, bearing likenesses of John Gough Nichols, of London, and of Lucy Lewis Nichols, his wife, struck to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage, Mr. Nichols being a corresponding member of the Society; the cradle of Gov. Joseph Dudley, from Dudley Hall, of Medford; a colored engraving of the Boston Massacre, by Paul Revere, and a curious pencil-sketch of the old build

ing till lately standing at the corner of North and Union Streets, Boston, including also some of the market-stalls, made by James Kidder, of Charlestown, about 1818,- both from William H. Keith, of Charlestown; eight Confederate flags, captured at different times and places by the United States naval forces under command of Admiral Farragut, and given to the Society by Capt. Gustavus V. Fox, lately assistant secretary of the navy, at the suggestion of Mr. Whitney; an elaborately-carved war-club, brought from the Sandwich Islands in 1797 by Capt. William Ballard, of Boston, and given to the Society by William Ballard of Brooklyn, N.Y., through John J. May of Boston; a collection of sixty-seven engraved portraits of distinguished Frenchmen, from Mr. Whitmore; a framed photograph, colored in India ink, of the members of the Society present at the meeting at the house of the President in June last, from Mr. Winthrop; a portrait in oil of Benjamin Franklin, from Miss Martha B. Wheaton, of Cambridge; oil-portraits of Gov. Joseph Dudley and Rebecca Tyng Dudley, his wife, from their descendant, Henry A. S. D. Dudley, of Boston, and a box containing gold and silver medals and other valuable testimonials presented to Dr. William T. G. Morton in recognition of his claims to the discovery of the anæsthetic properties of sulphuric ether, from his widow.

There has also been placed in the cabinet the collection of coins, &c., of Mr. Savage, which collection was referred to a committee consisting of the Cabinet-keeper, the Librarian, and Mr. Appleton, to examine and report on. Mr. Appleton, who has made a careful examination on behalf of the Committee, reports that "the collection comprises about two thousand coins, medals, &c., in gold, silver, copper, bronze, tin, and paper. There are also some relics of various kinds. A few pieces of particular interest and value have been arranged in a small tray and placed where they can readily be examined."

In conclusion, the Cabinet-keeper must repeat what has often before been commented on in the reports of his predecessors

in office, and of himself, that the accommodations for the display of the smaller and more valuable articles belonging to the cabinet are quite inadequate, and are such as to repress rather than to encourage the increase of its collection; and he again expresses the hope that some means may be found to do justice to the Society's possessions.

BOSTON, April 14, 1870.

Respectfully submitted,

HENRY G. DENNY, Cabinet-keeper.

Mr. LINCOLN submitted the following, which met with a unanimous response:

Col. Thomas Aspinwall, senior Vice-President of the Society, having declined being a candidate for re-election to that office,

Voted, That the thanks of the Society be presented to him for his services as an officer of the Society for many years, and for his valuable contributions to historical learning during a long and honorable life.

Voted, That the thanks of the Society be presented to Wm. G. Brooks, Esq., and Charles C. Smith, Esq., retiring members of the Standing Committee, for their valuable and efficient services in the discharge of the duties of their office.

Mr. BROOKS, from the Standing Committee, spoke of some plans which Mr. Harris, the architect, had prepared at the Committee's request, in view of the contemplated alteration in the Society's building. The subject was laid over till another meeting.

The President communicated the following letter which had been placed in his hands by our Corresponding Member, J. Francis Fisher, Esq., of Philadelphia:

GEO: TOWN, March 17th, 1776.

I am convinced, my dear Friend, that 'tis unnecessary to give you a circumstantial account of the occurrences w have hitherto prevented my acknowledging your two favors. You know me too well to think