Essex County, Massachusetts - Chapter 4: Science in Essex County, 1888 (part 2 of 2)

The first steps towards the organization of an Essex County Lyceum were taken at a gathering at Topsfield, December 30, 1829. It was not composed largely of delegates, but some eighty public-spirited professional and scholarly gentlemen came together there in Academy Hall, for mutual enlightenment on this interesting theme. Besides the Methuen and Beverly Lyceums, there were then existing in the county, one at Newburyport, organized November 25, 1829, on a very independent footing, and holding weekly meet- ings ; and another at Bradford, East Parish, now Groveland, called the Franklin Lyceum, organized December 23, 1829, holding weekly meetings in the hall of Merrimac Academy. If others were represented in the gathering at Topsfield, I have failed to trace them ; but of those then in existence three, probably those of Newburyport, Bradford and Methuen, declined to send delegates or be in any way subjected to the authority of the proposed County Lyceum ; and one, Beverly, sent delegates to protest against the scheme of confederation, except on condition that the autonomy of the town Lyceums w^as fully recognized and assured. The feeling of these remonstrants was well expressed by Ichabod Tucker, of Salem, who said : " For purposes of mutual improvement, the County Lyceum will be useless. He had no objection himself to ride ten or twelve miles once in three or four months, to shake hands with his friends from distant parts of the county, and to take a social chat and eat a social dinner together. He thought it would be a very good thing. But it was idle to think of forming a government while there was nothing to govern, or of forming any board of control without the consent, first asked and obtained, of those who are to be controlled by it." This spirit of opposition to the plan of confederation was by no meaus exceptional here, but cropped out elsewhere. The opening address, by Dr. Thomas A. Greene, before the New Bedford Lyceum, December 18, 1828, says : " We have adopted the name of New Bedford Lyceum, in preference to calling ourselves a branch of the American Lyceum, as has been done in some other places. This involves no necessary connection with other societies, but leaves us at liberty to pursue our own course." The very vigorous Lyceum at Newburyport was started on the same basis, and there is reason to think that many of the most promising of the early organizations kept aloof at least until they could be assured that no undue control would be attempted by the County Lyceum, and also that all efforts on the part of the evangelical element to give it a sectarian or denominational caste would be defeated. The differences of opinion which thus developed themselves, and the warmth with which opposite views were maintained throughout an extended session, showed that this gathering was no dilettanti excursion. It w^as called to order by Rev. Gardner B. Perry, of Bradford, who was its secretary, and Hon. Robert Rantoul, Sr., of Beverly, was its president. The question whether Lyceums should be of spontaneous growth and self-sustained, or should derive their charters and powers from a central head, such as a County or a State Lyceum, was vigorously discussed by Judge Cummins, Elisha Mack, Ichabod Tucker, Robert Rantoul, Jr., Dr. George Choate and Rev. Chas. W. Upham, all of Salem, and Rev. Leonard Withington, of Newbury, in favor of the view which prevailed, and by Dr. Spofford, of Rowley, and Rev. Henry C. Wright, of West Newbury, in opposition, ix and the convention recommended a County Lyceum, as a means of strengthening town Lyceums previously formed, but in no sense or degree as a source of power or authority, and after appointing the necessary committees, dissolved. One of these committees, of which Rev. Chas. W. Upham was chairman, issued, January 24, 1830, a circular letter, inviting the towns to form Lyceums, to send delegates to proposed semi-annual county gatherings, and to adopt constitutions modeled either on Holbrook's or that of the Beverly or of the Salem Lyceum, each of which was quoted in extenso. The letter concludes with an urgent appeal to the town Lyceums to send delegates to a county convention, called to meet at Ipswich Hotel, March 17, there to consider a county constitution to be submitted by the committee. Representatives of seventeen Lyceums attended this meeting, - there were then twentysix towns in the county, - and adopted a county constitution ; they chose Judge White president, fixed the annual meeting on May 5th, at Ipswich ; requested an address from Judge White, which was delivered, and is in jjriut; and apportioned the county among.-t a Board of Managers, in the following districts : To Mr. Howe, of Haverhill, his own town, Methuen and Bradford West Parish ; to Mr. Crosby, of Amesbury, that town and Salisbury ; to Rev. Mr. Withington, Newburyport and Newbury; to Rev. Mr. Perry, Bradford East Parish, West Newbury and Rowley ; to Rev. Mr. Vose, of Topsfield, that town and Boxford ; to Mr. Cutler, of Lynn, Lynn and Saugu-i ; to Rev. Mr. Bartlett, of Marblehead, and Rev. Mr. Badger, of Andover, their own towns respectively ; to Hon. Wm. Thorndike, Beverly and Essex; to Hon. Israel Trask and Rev. Mr. Hildreth, Gloucester and Manchester ; and the towns of Salem, Ipswich, Danvers, Lynnfield, Hamilton, Middleton and Wenham, to Hon. D. A. White, Rev. John Brazer, Eben Shillaber and Ichabod Tucker, Enquires, all of Salem.

The first annual meeting was held, as announced, on May 5th, in the First Parish meeting-house at Ipswich, and it is proof enough of the quickening influence of the county movement inaugurated at Topsfield December 30, 1829, that between that date and the meeting at Ipswich, May 5, 1830, Lyceums had been formed at Salem, January 18th ; at Andover, February 10th ; at Manchester, February 18th ; at Gloucester, February 19th ; at Topsfield and New Rowley, some time in February; at West Newbury, March 16th ; at Essex, some time in March ; at North Andover, April 13th ; and one at Amesbury and Salisbury in common, and others, at dates which I cannot determine, at Lynn, Haverhill and some of the parishes. Delegates were present on the 5th of May from eighteen established Lyceums.

The County Lyceum met next, November 24th, at the Tabernacle in Salem, where it was addressed by Rev. Mr. Perry, who succeeded to the presidency upon the retirement of Judge White, and whose address was printed. The second annual meeting was held, May

27, 1831, in the First Parish meeting-house at Newbury port, and was addressed by Rev. Dr. Brazer, of Salem, whose remarks were also printed. Ipswich had formed a Lyceum since the last report, and was now represented in the convention. But so far as I can ascertain, this was the last meeting of the Essex County Lyceum. Teachers' Institutes were coming into favor; some element of internal discord may have relaxed its hold on public support, or it may be that the town Lyceums had found themselves so strong as to be perfectly well able to get on without it. Meantime the State Lyceum of Massachusetts, the second in the country (New York being a month before us), was coming into prominence from the character of the men who were conspicuous in it, and, to Holbrook's mind at least, his scheme was also taking on national, if not even international dimensions. But before passing from the local Lyceums, let us look for a moment at the nature of the subjects with which they mainly concerned themselves. T shall not enumerate the long list of subjects upon which lectures were delivered, because in the selection of these the listeners had little voice. But the topics chosen for debate and the character of their other exercises certainly furnish a fair criterion of the prevailing standard of intelligence and the drift of public feeling. In the large towns, where either the services of professional men were to be had for the asking or the money required to secure them was readily forthcoming, the lecture was the common medium of instruction. Nothing else was ever offered in Salem. But it was in the small towns, as the annual reports assure us, that the institution did its greatest work, and here debates were the chief attraction. These were both written and extemporized, but in both cases the subjects were announced in advance and disputants appointed to open the discussion. In North Danvers, in Toj^sfield, in Haverhill and in Beverly debates seem to have proved a special attraction. Among the questions discussed were the^e: "Ought the habit of wearing mourning apparel to continue?" "Ought imprisonment fur debt to be abolished in Massachusetts?" " Are railroads likely to prove advantageous? " " Is it expedient to authorize a lottery for completing Bunker Hill Monument?" "Ought the government to remove the Seminoles and Cherokees, and have Indians a right to tribal government independent of that of the State and of the Union?" "Do newspapers, on the whole, contribute to the morals of a people? " " Do the evils of the militia system counterbalance its advantages?" "Is capital punishment justifiable in Massachusetts? " " Are the poor laws in their present state beneficial ? " " Ought public roads to be maintained by the town or the county?" " Ought representatives, in voting, to be governed by their own convictions or those of their constituents? " "Is it expedient to divide the town of Danvers?" " Is Free Masonry calculated to promote virtue, religion and good government ? " " Ought immigration to be discouraged ? " " Is it right, is it expedient to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia?" "Ought the incorporation of factories to be encouraged?" " Is it expedient to take legal measures to prevent the distillation of ardent spirits?" "Which sex has produced the best authors, according to their respective opportunities for literary acquirement?" "Does public policy require that females be excluded from the public offices of government and exempted from the active duties of citizens? " "Is the use of ardent spirits and stimulating liquors beneficial to the community?"' "Is it for the advantage of Christendom that the Russians expel the Turks from Europe?" "If the Greeks gain their independence, what form of government will best suit their circumstances?" "Is the present government of France likely to be permanent?" "Has the career of Byron been beneficial or injurious?" "Of Napoleon?" "What occasions the stillness of the air which precedes earthquakes?" " Is the use of anthracite coal likely to conduce to economy and comfort?"

In many instances the same question was discussed for several sittings and often referred to a committee for final determination. Ladies made their contributions, if at all, in writing, and often anonymously, through the medium of the post-office or of a special receptacle for their communications and essays established by each Lyceum. In some places, notably in Gloucester, Boston and Philadelphia, ladies were encouraged to lake part, but their co-operation was not always invited. In Salem, Haverhill and elsewhere they were at first admitted on special terms, and each required the guaranty of a male sponsor for her good behavior. The sex seems to have been treated with a vague distrust, like some untried, monstrous and explosive force, only to be experimented on, if at all, with the utmost circumspection. Where they appeared they were cautioned to come with heads uncovered, for bonnets were ample, and the presence of these fascinating obstructions, it was said, tempted auditors to rise from their seats when experiments were shown, and thus still further to intercept the vision. Of topics for lectures, I think that electricity, experimentally illustrated, was the universal favorite. In Salem Colonel Peabody owned costly apparatus for these experiments; in other less fortunate places the funds of the Lyceum were devoted to its purchase, and everywhere men of scientific knowledge enough to exhibit and explain the phenomena of galvanism, magnetism and kindred manifestations of this tremendous agent were in unfailing demand. In this connection the fact is not without interest that Professor Charles Grafton Page, of Salem, whose name was a household word amongst early Lyceum-goers, and who was afterwards for many years a principal examiner of patents at the Patent Office, and also connected with the early stages of the Smithsonian Institute at Washington, succeeded, in 1851, in driving a locomotive electric engine on the Baltimore and Ohio

Eailroad from Washington to Bladensburg and back, reaching a maximum speed of nineteen miles per hour. It was not an uncommon practice in the Lyceums to engage some attractive celebrity for the opening lecture of a winter's course, and to make that lecture free, with a view to invite a large attendance and to recommend the institution to general favor. This policy was a justification of the remark of Dr. Holmes, in his " Lecture on Lectures and Lecturers," that the Lyceum served the purpose, among others, of a cheap menagerie for showing the lions to the people. I recall a course at Beverly, probably in 1842, opened by John Quincy Adams, who was afterwards entertained at the Brown mansion, on Cabot Street, now the residence of Mr. Perry Collier. Curators were chosen where there were cabinets and apparatus, and other officers for the care and administration of libraries. In some places, where the repetition of lectures was made necessary by the straitened accommodations of halls and churches, the lecturer read the same address on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday afternoon, and his audiences, by a process of natural selection, divided themselves between those whose occupations left their evenings free and the school attendants, teacher and pupil, with ladies and persons of leisure who could spare the hours of daylight, and so made a "lecture afternoon " in a new sense on Wednesday. In other places, as in Salem for the years between 1851 and 1856, when we had outgrown our little amphitheatre and were yet repelled by the cost and vastness of Mechanic Hall, courses were repeated on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and the former being a night devoted by the Evangelical Churches to religious gatherings, the atmosphere on the first reading of a lecture was considerably more heretical than on the second. The lecturer's fee was generally ten dollars, rarely twenty, and in most cases lectures, like other services, being rendered by public-spirited townsmen, - Mr. Emerson delivered ninety-eight in Concord, - were gratuitously rendered. Dr. Chapin's mot, " I lecture for FAME, Fifty-And-My-Expenses," belongs to a later epoch. In some instances the exercises of the Lyceum were opened freely to the public, but generally a little contribution to the funds was exacted, say fifty cents or a dollar per year. The magic-lantern took the place of our elaborate apparatus for illustration, but the name " Phantasmagoria," perhaps, made up for some of its deficiencies.

The Lyceums, while alike in general drift, differed much in methods and details ; that at Gloucester was organized under the general act for incorporating Lyceums approved March 4, 1829, and for the first five years continued its sittings through almost the entire year. It devoted its attention at once to the schools of Gloucester and to the history of the town. To the distinguished names I have mentioned in connection with it, may be added those of Dr. Ebenezer Dale, Benj. K. Hough, Dr. William Ferson and John W.

Lowe. The Lynn Lyceum encouraged the production of dissertations and essays and divided itself into ten classes or departments covering agriculture, trade and manufacture'?, education, letters, morals, art and sciences, physiology, natural history - including mineralogy, geology, botany and chemistry - history and public improvements. Two outlying districts of Lynn, namely, Woodend and Swampscott, had early Lyceums of their own. The Beverly Lyceum often had a lecture, followed by a debate on the same evening. At one time it met twice in each week for debate, and the debates sometimes extended over several adjournments. It also voted by yea and nay vote on the weight of argument, as well as on the merits of the question. And the president of the Lyceum did not preside over the debates, but was required to appoint in each case a chairman of the committee of the whole. Robert Rantoul, Sr., contributed a course of lectures on the history of the town which became the acknowledgeil basis of Stone's " History of Beverly." In a course on physiology, by Dr. Augustus Torrey, resort was had to the expedient of distributing a full printed synopsis of each lecture before its delivery. The Lyceum of Amesbury and Salisbury had expended nearly a hundred dollars for books and apparatus during its first season. That at Andover had followed an introductory by Holbrook, and a second address by Judge White, with a course of six illustrated lectures on astronomy from Rev. Harvey Wilbur, which were delivered at intervals of two or three days, and cost seventy-five dollars. Then Rev. Calvin Stowe pointed out the dangers of the prevailing ideas in education, especially those incident to Lyceums, and he was followed by Rev. E. W. Hooker in an essay claiming the Scriptures as the only basis of ethical science. At Bradford Merrimac Academy, one of the six large institutions of the kind then flourishing in the county, the students from abroad were allowed free admittance to the meetings of the Lyceum, probably in consideration of the use of Academy Hall, and a collection of mineral and vegetable specimens and other curiosities was begun, in 1830, having amongst them what was thought to be a foot and leg of aboriginal sculpture. At North Andover meetings were held once a fortnight, the year round, save in the summer months, and headquarters were established, with a reading-room, in the brick building opposite the meeting-house. At North Danvers the meetings were largely attended, occurred three times each month, and were occupied, with "Lectures, Debates, Compositions on Miscellaneous Topics, Reports of Committees appointed to solve questions in Natural Philosophy and Mathematics, and to criticize Declamations and Compositions." Lectures were read on chemistry, mechanics, geography, natural history, phrenology, geometry, natural theology, anatomy and architecture.

idiosyncrasies. The Nantucket Lyceum, one of the very earliest, incorporated by a special charter approved February 12, 1827, at once took steps for the gathering of a museum of local industry, by issuing a printed call to whalemen, urging them to neglect no opportunity for bringing home specimens illustrative of their venturesome and romantic calling and giving them directions as to the best known means of securing and preserving them. The Worcester Lyceum made the common law of business a special topic for instruction, and organized classes in chemistry, history, geography and practical mechanics. Many of the Lyceums anticipated the functions of village improvement clubs, embellishing, with shade-trees, the roads and lanes, beautifying the borders of lakes and streams, opening vistas and caring for the village green. And one at Williamstown, if the journals of the day may be trusted, attempted the introduction of a new industry and undertook the planting, in the spring of 1830, of twelve thousand white mulberry trees at its own cost.

Such were the early Lyceums of Massachusetts, and Essex County contained between a fourth and a third of the whole number, when, in February, 1831, Mr. Secretary Vose, of Topsfield, presented the best report made by any county to the first gathering of the Massachusetts Lyceum at the State House in Boston. With a brief review of the doings of the State and National Lyceums this paper may fitly close.

The first movement looking towards the organization of a State Lyceum in Massachusetts took place at the Exchange Coffee-House in Boston, November 7, 1828. Daniel Webster filled the chair and endorsed the scheme, and George B. Emerson was secretary. Josiah Holbrook reported progress. Edward Everett pledged his support and urged that books and apparatus quite beyond the reach of single persons, could be owned and made of general' use by Lyceums. The meeting adjourned for one week, and met again at the same place for the report of its committee on the present condition and needs of the Lyceum system, when Edward Everett was called to the chair, and after, discussion, another adjournment for one week was had. At the last meeting Dr. Charles Lowell took the chair and an elaborate report was submitted and adopted after debate, and laid before the people of the State, setting forth very forcibly and plainly the purposes and advantages of the Lyceum and urging general attention to its claims. The movement had the endorsement, also, of Henry Ware, then acting president of Harvard College, of Alexander H. Everett, and of other names hardly less conspicuous and influential, but it lacked the vital energy of the town Lyceums.

Later in the same winter, February 6, 1829, a meeting of members of the Legislature and others interested, yva^ held at the Representatives' Hall, resolutions voted and given to the public, and a committee raised to collect and report information on Lyceums in the commonwealth. This report was made at an adjourned meeting at the same place, February 19, 1830, at which Governor Lincoln presided. It recommended, through Alexander H. Everett, its chairman, the formation of town and village Lyceums and of county Lyceums as an outgrowth and supplement to these, defined and described their objects, urged teachers to join them, proposed a State Lyceum, appointed a State Central Committee, including many of the foremost names in Massachusetts, upon which Essex County was represented by Stephen C. Phillips, Rnfus Choate, Benjamin Greenleaf, William Thorndike, Gayton P. Osgood, Alonzo Lewis and others, recommended the Lyceums to co-operate in the proposed survey by Colonel James Stevens for a map of Massachusetts, proposed a scientific and practical examination of the resources of each town, gave a definition of the Lyceum as "a voluntary association of persons for mutual improvement," sent out a circular letter, with a promise of others, and urged in return a general response in the form of systematic reports from all the Lyceums in Massachusetts.

In consequence of this action the Massachusetts State Lyceum was organized February 25, 1831, and of this Alexander H. Everett was president and Josiah Holbrook secretary. Dr. James Walker, Hon. John Davis and Judge White were among its vicepresidents. It arranged for an elaborate lecture course at the State House during the annual session of the Legislature, with a most exhaustive catalogue of subjects and a most distinguished list of speakers, including Judge Jackson, Horace Mann, Theodore Sedgwick and James Savage. Its first anniversary meeting was held at the State House, February 1st, 2d and 6th, 1832, the president in the chair and Stephen C. Phillips, of Salem, secretary. It appeared that the twenty-six towns in Essex County supported twentythree Lyceums, a record quite in advance of any other section of the country. Salem had the largest Lyceum in the State, numbering twelve hundred members. That at Newton ranked next, and after Newton came Newburyport, with four hundred and fifty, and Gloucester with four hundred. Haverhill with three hundred and fifty, was amongst the largest. Timothy Claxton took part in this meeting in an effort to show how Lyceums might be of service to struggling inventors in perfecting their designs and models. At the next meeting of the State Lyceum, which proved to be its last, held February 20, 1833, Dr. Gannett and Rev. John Pierpont appear among the speakers. But the efforts of all these good men and true were unable to save it longer.

The National Lyceum did not succeed much better. Organized in the United States Court Room in the City Hall at New York, May 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 1831, in accordance with a call issued January 13, by the State Lyceum of New York, sitting at Utica on its first gathering, the National Lyceum of America proceeded to adopt a constitution based upon the representation of local Lyceums, each State and territory to send not less than three delegates, and not more than half its number of members in Congress. This body elected Hon. Stephen van Eensselaer, of Albany, N. Y., as its president, and Hon. Edward Everett and Hon. Thomas S. Grimke, of South Carolina were two of its five vice-presidents. It issued the usual appeals for support ; commended to the aid of local Lyceums the work of Colonel James Steveus, an eminent engineer, then engaged in Massachusetts on the first State topographical map produced in the country ; called for the establishment of normal schools ; questioned the policy of retaining Latin and Greek in the advanced schools as a required study; urged the introduction of the natural sciences ; and, after much labor of a more formal character, adjourned for a twelve-month. Its next meeting was in the Aldermen's Eoom in the City Hall at New York. May 4, 5, 6, 7, 1832, and here it was honored with the presence of an ex-president of the Spanish Cortes, of Zavala and Salgada, two Mexican ex-governors, and of Fortique, a representative in the Congress of Venezuela, as well as at other times of the consul-general of Colombia, the Prussian Envoy, an Armenian essayist from Constantinople, an Athenian professor, and a philosopher from London. It met again May 3, 4, 5, 6, 1833, in the same place, and elected President Duer of Columbia College its presiding officer. It recommended a uniform system of meteorological observations, amongst the Lyceums of the country ; the introduction of vocal music and manual labor in the common schools ; commended Audubon's great work on the birds of America ; heard letters from several leading personages in the West Indies and the Central American States, as well as in various parts of the Union, and urged the formation in New York of a National Cabinet of Natural History, to be made up of contributions from local Lyceums, At a meeting in the same place. May 2, 3, 5, 1834, Massachusetts made a good report through Hon. Wm. B. Calhoun, and the state of education in Cuba, Poland and Mexico were considered. It was voted to print an essay on the North American Indians by Schoolcraft, and a text-book on Constitutional Jurisprudence, furnished by President Duer. In May, 1835, the annual meeting was again held in New York, and the teaching of political economy and the fine arts in the public schools was advocated. John Pickering's researches in the dialects of the North American tribes were highly commended. Signs of approaching dissolution began to manifest themselves. At the meeting of May 6, 7, 9, 1836, at the same place. Dr. Howe, of Massachusetts, explained his method of educating the blind, and New Grenada reported the purchase, at government cost, of twenty thousand slates and two hundred thousand slate-pencils ! Holbrook proposed supplying every one of the eleven thousand counties in the United States with a cabinet of minerals of its own, furnished through the system of Lyceum exchange. In May, 1837, the annual meeting was held in Philadelphia. The disposal of the surplus revenue was discussed and Espy's theory of storms was commended, with a request to the local Lyceums to report their weather observations to Espy. Government was memorialized in favor of a weather bureau, Holbrook now produced his twelve-page prospectus of a "Universal Lyceum," with Henry Brougham at its head, a list of fifty-two vice-presidents, one for every week in the year, taken from all the nations of the earth, and one hundred and thirtynine secretaries, besides Josiah Holbrook, who is styled " Actuary." The declared objects were "the diffusion of knowledge over our globe," and " the exchange of shells, minerals and plants," The meeting of 1838 was held at the free church in Hartford, Connecticut, and sat but one day. May 15, Commonschool matters occupied it largely, but it found time to consider also the questions of international copyright and the improvement and embellishment of towns and villages. It complains of lack of funds and finds the Amerjcan Institute of Instruction a growing competitor. It met once more ; this time at New York again. May 3, 4, 5, 1839 ; fifty-five delegates were present, but none from Massachusetts. It proposed a convention to sit for one week from November 22d, at Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, just before the session of Congress, in order to influence that body in applying the Smithson Legacy, and also in favor of selling the public lands for educational purposes. It proposed to call for educational statistics in the next decennial census, and finally it proposed a General National Convention of the whole Union to sit at Washington, D, C, in May, 1840. These never met, and so ended all but what survived in the town Lyceums, and possibly here and there a scattered county organization, of the Lyceum system of Josiah Holbrook. This remarkable man seems to have died as he had lived, reaching out for more than he could grasp. His lifeless body was found floating in a stream near Lynchburg, Va., May 24, 1854, and there was reason to believe that in clambering alone up the rugged bluff to secure some rare mineral specimen or delicate flower of which he was in search, he had missed his footing, and so lost his life. Few in any age have shown more unselfish devotion to a noble idea, and what he really did, however it may have fallen short of what he hoped, is monument enough for any man.

Miscellaneous

Essex Agrigultueal Society.^ - The idea of the formation of this society originated with Col. Timothy Pickering, who, at the head of forty men, made the first armed resistance to British forces, February 28th, 1775, at North Bridge, Salem. He called a meeting of farmers, and other inhabitants of Essex County, at Cj^rus Cummings' tavern in Topsfield, Monday, the 16th of February, 1818. Ichabod Tucker was chosen moderator, and Daniel Cummings, secretary ; these, with John Adams, Paul Kent and Elisha Mack, were appointed a committee to report a plan of organization.

Timothy Pickering was chosen president, and William Bartlett, Dr. Thomas Kittredge, John Heard and Ichabod Tucker, vice-presidents, Leverett Saltonstall, secretary, and Dr. Nehemiah Cleaveland, treasurer.

Timothy Pickering was annually chosen president, for ten years to 1829 ; Frederick Howes, four years, from 1829 to 1833; Ebenezer Mosely, three years, from 1833 to 1836 ; James H. Duncan, three years, from 1836 to 1839; Joseph Kittridge, two years, from 1839 to 1841 ; Leverett Saltonstall, four years, from 1841 to 1845; John W. Proctor, se^en years, from 1845 to 1852; Moses Newell, four years, from 1852 to 1856; Richard S. Fay, two years, from 1856 to 1858 ; Daniel Adams, two years, from 1858 to 1860 ; Allen W. Dodge, three years, from 1860 to 1863 ; Joseph How, two years, from 1863 to 1865 ; William Sutton, nine years, from 1865 to 1874; and Benjamin P. Ware, thirteen years, from 1874 to 1887, now holding the ofBce.

There has been a carefully prepared address delivered before the society, at its annual meeting, every year since its organization, except the five years between 1823 and 1829. These addresses have been delivered in every instance by a citizen of the county, invited by a vote of the trustees, and have been published in the transactions of the society, and form a valuable part of the agricultural literature of the society. Col. Timothy Pickering delivered the first address in 1818, and again in February, 1820. The others were as follows : -

In connection with these addresses, fifteen original hymns, odes and songs, have been sung by selected choirs, and published in the transactions. There have also been published in the transactions of the society, (67) sixty-seven prize essays upon various subjects connected with agriculture, for which has been paid premiums varying from eight to twentyfive dollars each ; also (49) forty-nine prize reports of committees; premiums paid for these from six dollars to ten dollars; in addition there have been published (626) six hundred and twenty-six extended reports of committees, containing original ideas and suggestions, each filling from one to ten pages of printed matter.

These addresses, essays and reports contain the best thoughts, the broadest experiences and wisest suggestions of the most prominent farmers and professional men of Essex County, in the last sixty -five years, and make up, principally, the agricultural literature of the county.

The Essex Agricultural Society, unlike all others in the State, owns no grounds, including a trotting track and show buildings ; it has no local abiding place. But instead, owns a tent, some portable cattle pens, twelve hundred exhibition fruit dishes, an experimental farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which brings an income of from three hundred to five hundred dollars per annum, besides conducting such experiments as are required by the committee having that matter in charge. A library of eight hundred volumes of valuable books for reference and study, and funds invested in bank stock, the market value of which is $17,119.83.

This society needs no trotting track, for it never paid a dollar for speed since its organization ; or for any other attraction, nor allows any on its grounds, except of a purely agricultural or horticultural character, which must be grown or owned within the county. Domestic manufactures and works of art from citizens of the county receive the encouragement of the society. All stock competing for a pre- mium must be owned in the county at least four months previous. Agricultural implements, from any source, are admitted for competition; no entrance fees required from any competitor for premiums. The whole of the exhibitions are open, free to the public, except for admission to the exhibition hall, where twenty cents is charged. An average sum of three thousand dollars has been offered in premiums annual!}^ for the last ten years, and since its organization the society has, as near as can be ascertained, awarded in premiums and gratuities an aggregate of $48,727.54. In addition, the society has supported three scholarships at the Massachusetts Agricultural College through the entire course of four years, at .fifty dollars each per year, and for three years had a premium of one hundred dollars offered for the best prepared student, who shall enter the college from Esgex County and continue through the four years' course.

This society holds its annual exhibitions in different parts of the county where most needed and where suitable accommodations can be provided. Since its organization, it has held its shows at Danvers, ten times ; Lawrence, seven times ; six each at Lynn, Topsfield, Haverhill and Newburyport; five times at Georgetown and Salem ; four times at Gloucester ; three each at Andover and Ipswich ; two at Peabody; one at Newbury; and two others in doubt. This society has held, since required by the State Board of Agriculture, 1879, forty-eight institutes in different parts of the county where most wanted. At each meeting two sessions have been held, with a large attendance, and the subjects selected discussed with much interest and satisfaction to the farming community, resulting in promulgating much practical knowledge and a growing interest in the farm. Two trials of mowing machines and other machines for making hay, have been organized and conducted by the society, and two of plows and other implements for cultivating crops, each proved of great value to the farmers and were a complete success. The whole number of members since its organization is twentynine hundred and eighty-six; the present number now living is fifteen hundred and eight.

The society publishes annually an edition of from fifteen hundred to two thousand copies of its transactions, containing from one hundred and twenty to two hundred and twenty pages, for distribution among its members and others

The transactions published since the society's organization make in the aggregate eighty-seven hundred and sixty-one pages of valuable and interesting reading matter, and which are no inconsiderable part of the agricultural literature of the State.

Essex South District Medical Society. - This is one of the oldest of the district societies that form the Massachusetts Medical Society. It was organized November 4, 1805, by ten physicians, who met at the Sun Tavern, in Salem ; Dr. Edward Augustus Holyoke president and Dr. John Dexter Treadwell secretary. It consists of those members of the Massachusetts Medical Society who reside in Lynn, Swampscott, Nahant, Saugus, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Salem, Peabody, Danvers, Middleton, Beverly, Wenham, Topsfield, Ipswich, Hamilton, Essex, Manchester, Rockport, Gloucester.

Its meetings are held every six weeks, either in Salem or Lynn, except occasionally during the summer months, in other towns within the district. At these meetings written papers are read and oral communications are made, giving an account of interesting cases that have occurred in their practice.

The Library, which was established by a vote of the society at its first meeting, contains about twenty-five hundred volumes. The books from the libraries of the late Drs. E. A. Holyoke, A. D. Pierson and Samuel Johnson compose a large portion and are very valuable additions. The circulation is limited to members of the society. The library is deposited in Plummer Hall, Salem.

The Essex North District Medical Society was organized November 3, 1841. An application had been previously made to the Massachusetts Medical Society and granted by that body for the formation of the fellows of that Society practicing in Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Bradford, Georgetown, Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury into an association to be entitled the Essex North District Medical Society. At the date above mentioned Dr. Jonathan G. Johnson, of New'buryport, was chosen president; Dr. Rufus Longley, of Haverhill, vice-president ; Dr. F. V. Noyes, of Newburyport, secretary ; Dr. Isaac Boyd, of West Newbury, treasurer; and Dr. J. Spofford, of Groveland, librarian. The Society chooses annually eight counsellors, and these in connection with the counsellors of other district societies in the State constitute the Board of Counsellors of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Five censors are also chosen annually, who examine applicants for admission as to character and professional qualifications, and the consent of three censors is necessary for admission.

Stated meetings are held quarterly. The annual meeting is held at Haverhill on the first Wednesday in May, at which ofiicers for the year are chosen, and other meetings in August, November and February at such places as may be from time to time determined,

Boston akd Maine Railroad extends from Boston to Portland, Me., a distance of 115.50 miles. This road was originally organized as the Andover and Wilmington Railroad Company. It took its present name in 1839, This company is now the largest railroad corporation in New England. Its leased lines in Essex County are as follows : Eastern Railroad, chartered April 14, 1836; Darivers Railroad; Lowell and Andover ; Newburyport; West Amesbury;