and of the conditions of their respective countries was in itself an excellent groundwork for a treaty of alliance is undeniable; still some definite cause for bringing matters to a head was needed; and we may well believe that Woodville, who had the ear of the king, and who returned from Spain in 1486 or 1487, deeply impressed with the power and importance of the Spanish sovereigns, had a large share in persuading Henry to make the first move, i. e. to send the embassy of March 10th, 1488. Certainly it is difficult to assign any other definite cause for the departure of the ambassadors at this precise juncture. The later career of Woodville, moreover, confirms this theory. Although of a Yorkist family and therefore hostile to France, the "ardent loue and affeccio" with which, according to Hall, he was "inflamed" for the Duke of Brittany, is scarcely in itself a sufficient cause to explain his bold venture of May, 1488, in the teeth of the royal opposition. Is it not possible that having been in Spain, and close in touch with the Spanish sovereigns, he foresaw what price they were likely to ask for the hand of their daughter, and being himself deeply interested in the success of the scheme, started off with the idea of forcing Henry into an abandonment of his old friendship with France, an abandonment which actually took place six weeks after his departure? Looked at in this light, the career of this obscure knight-errant assumes considerable importance as one of a number of causes that led up to the completion of a marriage which was destined to have results of incalculable importance for Europe and for Christendom; to be the first of a chain. of events that paved the way for the English Reformation, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the transference of the sovereignty of the seas from Spain to England, and for the conflicts of these two great powers in the New World.

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

A Special Meeting of the Council was held at No. 13 Foster street, in Worcester, on the 16th of November, 1903.

President Salisbury announced the death of the Hon. HENRY S. NOURSE, which occurred at his home in Lancaster, Mass., on the 14th inst.

The following minute was read by the Recording Secretary, and was adopted as the sense of the Council after remarks by Messrs. Paine, Davis and S. S. Green.

By the death of the Hon. Henry Stedman Nourse the Council of the American Antiquarian Society is called upon to mourn the loss of a most valuable member. Though but recently elected as our associate in this body, he came into a circle of intimate friends who had long known of his virtues and his merits; and the value of his assistance in our work was at once manifested and recognized. Chosen to fill the recently established office of biographer he had had but little occasion to exercise its functions, but he showed that he fully appreciated the true nature of the work required, and that he would perform it without prejudice and without flattery.

He performed much valuable historical work outside of our Society; and his last contribution to history, made at the recent annual meeting and now in press, is an evidence of his thoroughness, his public spirit and his zeal.

The death of such a man is to be mourned by all who appreciate the value of a life so full of good works, of faithful service to his family and the community, and of unquestioned integrity.

PROCEEDINGS.

SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL 27, 1904, AT THE HALL OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN BOSTON.

THE meeting was called to order by the President, the Hon. STEPHEN SALISBURY.

The following members were present:

Edward E. Hale, Nathaniel Paine, Stephen Salisbury, Samuel A. Green, James F. Hunnewell, Edward H. Hall, Charles C. Smith, Edmund M. Barton, Charles A. Chase, Samuel S. Green, Daniel Merriman, Reuben Colton, Henry H. Edes, G. Stanley Hall, William E. Foster, Edwin D. Mead, Francis H. Dewey, Calvin Stebbins, George H. Haynes, William R. Livermore, Edward S. Morse, John Noble, Austin S. Garver, A. Lawrence Rotch, Samuel Utley, James W. Brooks, Edward H. Gilbert, E. Harlow Russell, Benjamin T. Hill, Edmund A. Engler.

The report of the proceedings of the previous meeting was accepted.

The report of the Council was prepared by Dr. EDMUND A. ENGLER and Mr. SAMUEL SWETT GREEN. The business portion of the report was presented by Mr. GREEN.

The essay on the part of the Council prepared by Dr. ENGLER was entitled, "The Commercial Primacy of the United States."

Prof. E. HARLOW RUSSELL, of Worcester, read a biographical sketch of the late HENRY S. Nourse.

The report of the Council being now fully before the meeting, it was voted that the same be referred to the Committee of Publication.

Dr. GEORGE H. HAYNES, of Worcester, presented a paper entitled, "The Attempted Suicide of a Massachusetts Town," relating to Shays's Rebellion and the attempts of the Town of Pelham to surrender its charter.

The Recording Secretary reported that the Council recommend for election to membership: Victor Hugo Paltsits, assistant librarian of the Lenox Library; Clarence Winthrop Bowen, Doctor of Philosophy, of New York City; and Rev. John O'Dowd, A.B., of Portland, Maine.

Dr. HALE remarked: "If I may have a moment I would like to say that I think Father O'Dowd's name was placed on the list at my request. We had a very valuable member in Father O'Brien. Father O'Dowd has also distinguished himself by his studies of the Algonquian language and history. I do not know him personally, but I speak of him on the recommendation of gentlemen who know him, and speak of him as a valuable successor to Father O'Brien.”

Messrs. WILLIAM R. LIVERMORE, EDWIN D. MEAD and SAMUEL UTLEY, appointed a committee to distribute and collect ballots, reported the unanimous election of the three above-named gentlemen.

A paper entitled "Certain Great Monuments," was offered by Mr. JAMES F. HUNNEWELL.

The President read an official communication and announcement of the 14th International Congress of Americanists, which occurs in Stuttgart on the 18th to the 23rd of August of this year, inviting this Society to send a delegate.