The undersigned, Auditors of the American Antiquarian Society, hereby certify that we have examined the report of the Treasurer, made up to Oct. 1, 1887, and find the same to be correct and properly vouched; that the securities held by him are as stated, and that the balance of cash, stated to be on hand, is satisfactorily accounted for. CHARLES A. CHASE. WORCESTER, Oct. 18, 1887. REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN. THE recent Centennial Celebration of the formation of the Constitution of the United States reminds us that on the 24th instant it will be three-quarters of a century since the incorporation of our Society. This in turn suggests the inquiry what our founders proposed to do; what excuse they offered for putting a new society into the field. The most exact answer to this we shall find in the petition of Isaiah Thomas, Nathaniel Paine, William Paine, Levi Lincoln, Aaron Bancroft and Edward Bangs to the Legislature of Massachusetts, the opening portion of which is as follows: "To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled. The subscribers, influenced by a desire to contribute to the advancement of the arts and sciences, and to aid by their individual and united efforts in collecting and preserving such materials as may be useful in marking their progress not only in the United States but in other parts of the Globe: and wishing also to assist the researches of the future historians of our country, respectfully represent to the Legislature, that in their opinion the establishment of an antiquarian society within this Commonwealth would conduce essentially to the attainment of these objects." The act of incorporation bears the following endorsement: "In the House of Representatives, Oct. 23, 1812, passed to be enacted, Timothy Bigelow, Speaker. In the Senate, passed to be enacted, Oct. 24, 1812, Samuel Dana, President. Approved, Caleb Strong. Alden Bradford, Secretary of the Commonwealth." While "The notification and warning to the members incorporated" to attend the first meeting was headed, "American Society of Antiquaries," doubtless having then in mind the Society of Antiquaries of London, there immediately follows: "Whereas, by an act of the Legislature of Massachusetts passed Oct. 24, 1812, Isaiah Thomas and others were formed into and constituted a society and Body Politick and corporate by the name of the American Antiquarian Society" etc. What has been done or what left undone during these seventy-five years we need not stop to consider. But we, their successors, shall do well if with our greater opportunities we equal the founders in their wisdom and zeal. A curious side-light is thrown upon the society's early and limited library work as well as upon its old-time care and hospitality by the following vote of the sub-councila body composed of those officers living in Worcester, who appear to have held their first meeting February 15, 1815at a meeting held July 17, 1823; namely: "That the library of the society be opened to none but literary characters, that the key be kept at the house of the President, and that he be authorized to call on the members of the council and the secretaries in town, to wait on gentlemen who may wish to visit the library, whenever he may think it proper." Dr. Thomas's gifts both of books and money for the founding of this library prove that he believed with Addison, that "Books are the legacies that genius leaves to mankind, to be delivered down from generation to generation, as presents to the posterity of those who are yet unborn." For these gifts we shall ever remain under deep obligation. We also recall his "History of the Art of Printing," which has enabled us to fill this storehouse with so much historical information, and his invaluable services as patriot printer during the War of the Revolution. But even his boyhood should not be forgotten. In our copy of "The New Book of Knowledge," a duodecimo of one hundred and seventy-two pages and twenty-nine illustrations, printed and sold by Z. Fowle, at his printing-office in Back Street, near the Mill Bridge, Boston, in 1764, Mr. Thomas has written as follows: "Printed and cuts engraved wholly by I. Thomas, then 13 years of age, for Z. Fowle, when I. T. was his apprentice. Bad as the cuts are executed, there was not at that time an artist in Boston who could have done them much better. Some time before and soon after there were better engravers in Boston." Neither would we forget his fearless loyalty to the patriot cause, not only during the War of the Revolution, but in the trying times of his young manhood, which preceded it. When in Halifax, a few years since, I looked in vain for evidence of the rebellious acts of the lad of seventeen, while printing and virtually editing the Halifax Gazette, for Anthony Henry, the Government printer. Within these walls, however, there is an abundance of it. On the blank leaf attached to our file of the Gazette, Mr. Thomas has written, "Printed on stamped paper during the time of the Stamp Act. The Halifax Gazette, from October 2d, 1765, to April 1st, 1766, was printed by Isaiah Thomas, for Anthony Henry." The issues of December 5 and 19, have the heavy black lines suggestive of mourning, while the latter has in addition, a square jet black stamp, about the size of the Government stamp, representing the skull and crossed-bones, surmounted by the word "America." There are two copies of the number for December 26, one bearing the red stamp of the Government, the other only the death's-head printed the same size and color. One of the last and most dramatic acts of the Boston boy printer, was in connection with the Gazette of February 13, 1766. After stating incidentally that "Advertisements are taken in and inserted as cheap as the Stamp Act will allow," he proceeds to show his indignation by printing the issue upon stamped paper, carefully placed bottom side up, so that the crown as well as the other insignia and the motto are reversed. Not satisfied with this he prints directly over the stamp," Scorn and contempt of America pitching down to destruction," etc.; and, just below it, "D[evi]ls clear the way for B[ernard]s and STAMPS." Then he illustrates, in order that his meaning may be perfectly clear, by conveniently placing a square black stamp representing his Satanic Majesty surrounded by flames, with his familiar fork thrust into the government stamp, that emblem of authority which reminded our printer of "taxation without representation." Six weeks later, after seven months of Nova Scotia life, he took ship for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but not until he had been called to account by the authorities for boldly stating in the official organ that the people of the province were disgusted with the Stamp Act. It is interesting to note that Mr. Thomas was literally the first in many things touching his craft. He was the first to extend his influence by the opening of printing offices in various sections of New England, having in each case a resident partner. For instance, at Boston the concern was Thomas and Andrews, at Brookfield Thomas and Waldo, at Newburyport Thomas and Mycall, at Walpole, N. H., Thomas and Carlisle, while at Worcester his great work was done under his own name. He printed as the first thing ever printed in Worcester, the Massachusetts Spy of May 3, 1775, and in 1776, upon the same press and for the first time in Massachusetts, the Declaration of IndependIn 1786 he here issued from his press the first music ever printed typographically, and in 1791 the first pulpit Bible printed in America. The extent of his publishing is indicated by his Worcester editions of the State laws of Massachusetts, and other works of three, five or ten volumes each. While it may also be true that he catered somewhat to the popular taste of the day, it is clear that a list of his Worcester imprints alone would astonish us, both by their number and importance. ence. It may be well also to call to grateful remembrance at this time an important step in our history as a Society, taken half a century ago, and which is recorded as follows: |