REPORT OF THE COUNCIL.

As provided by the by-laws, the Council of the American Antiquarian Society herewith submits its semi-annual report for the six months ending April 23, 1906.

Since the last meeting of the Society, we have sustained a great loss in the death of our honored President Stephen Salisbury, who, after a brief illness, died at his home in Worcester, November 16, 1905.

He was apparently in his usual good health at the time of our annual meeting the last of October, and he entertained the members at his home in his customary hospitable manner. A special meeting of the Council was at once called at which appropriate eulogistic remarks were made by Vice-President Green and other members present, which have been printed and sent to our members.

The Council suggests that it would be most fitting that some permanent memorial of our late President should be placed in our building, perhaps a bust, medallion, or a portrait in oil, thus showing our recognition of his valuable services to the Society.

Ever since Mr. Salisbury became the President of the Society, he has taken the most active interest in its affairs and was familiar with all details of its management, and by those who have been most intimately connected with him in its administration, his loss is most keenly felt. That the future of the Society and its welfare was in his mind is manifested by his generous remembrance of it in his will. The following extracts from that document are given in order to place on record this substantial evidence of his thoughtful and practical interest in the future of our Society.

"10. I give and bequeath to the American Antiquarian Society, the estate upon Lincoln Square, known as the Salisbury Mansion Estate, containing some twenty-four thousand four hundred and fifty (24,450) square feet of land to be used by the said Society as the location of a new library building, or in such manner as may best further the purpose of the library and collections.

"11. I give and bequeath to the American Antiquarian Society of Worcester, all my books, all of my private library and the Greek and Maya antiquities collected by me, and those now deposited in cases in the Antiquarian Hall, the furniture previously loaned to the Society and the sum of Two hundred thousand (200,000) dollars."

The library of Mr. Salisbury now in process of removal to our Hall will add several hundred volumes to our collections and it is quite probable that many may prove duplicates of those now on our shelves. Owing to the present crowded condition of the alcoves it may be considered advisable to authorize the Library Committee to sell or exchange such duplicates, where they are not of special antiquarian or historical value.

This question of the disposition of the duplicate material in our present building is fast becoming a matter for serious consideration and more discrimination must be used in the future and only volumes of special interest and value purchased. The additional room leased by the Council on Summer street for the storage of newspapers not often called for is now about full and the need of additional space to properly care for our rapidly increasing treasures will soon become apparent.

The Council would call special attention to our valuable collection of manuscripts and recommend that a competent person be employed to arrange, classify and catalogue them. Our late President was much impressed with the importance of this and had expressed himself in favor of such a course, as has also our associate J. Franklin Jameson of the Carnegie Institution, who expressed his willingness to aid in any way in his power. It seems quite probable that a great deal

of valuable historical matter would be brought to light as a result of such action, some part of which should be printed by the Society. At any rate it would seem worth while to appoint a committee to investigate this department and report to the Council the result of such investigation. Notwithstanding this part of the Society's collection is not yet catalogued some use of it has been made by historical students, but a good catalogue would not only make it of more practical value to such students, but add to the reputation of the Society as a place for study and research. William Lincoln made a report for the Council in 1830 in which he refers to the Society's manuscripts as being rare and curious, and urges members to explore their garrets in search of old papers to add to the collection, the response to which undoubtedly added many valuable manuscripts. The Society has already published from the manuscripts in their possession:

"The Diaries of John Hull, Mint-Master and Treasurer of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay," with a memoir by Samuel Jennison and notes by Edward E. Hale. Archæologia Americana, Vol. III

"A Short Discourse of a Voyage made in ye yeare of our Lord 1613 to ye late discovered Countrye of Greenland; and a breife discription of ye same countrie, and ye Comodities yer raised to ye Aduenturers."

This was published by the Antiquarian Society in Vol. IV. of Archaologia Americana, with an introduction and notes by Samuel F. Haven. Fifty copies were also printed in separate form.

"Note-Book kept by Thomas Lechford, Esq., Lawyer, in Boston, Massachusetts Bay, from June 27, 1638, to July 29, 1641.” Edited by Edward Everett Hale, Jr. With a sketch of the life of Lechford by J. Hammond Trumbull, LL.D. Archæologia Americana, Vol. VII.

"The Diary of Christopher Columbus Baldwin, Librarian of the American Antiquarian Society, 1829-1835, with an introduction and notes by Nathaniel Paine, A.M.," Worcester, 1901.

The diary of our first president, Isaiah Thomas, is in process of publication, one volume being already in print, and it is expected that the material for the second volume will soon be in the hands of the printer.

Attention is called to the fact that Mrs. Reynolds our Librarian's assistant has prepared for the Alabama Depart

ment of Archives and History, a list of the newspapers printed in the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, which list has been printed in the Gulf States Historical Magazine. As this list is not likely to come to the notice of many of our members it is suggested that it be printed with the "Proceedings" for their benefit.1

The Collection and Research Fund, so termed since April 1858, founded by the receipt of $5000 from the estate of Isaiah Thomas and now amounting to over $16,000, was given for the purpose of using the income in exploring ancient monuments of this country and to aid in increasing the library and cabinet. It is suggested that as but little of the income has been used in the past for the study and exploration of ancient monuments an appropriation might be made for a special paper to become a part of another volume of the Archæologia Americana.

Reports of the Treasurer and Librarian are now presented only at the Annual Meeting but the Council report both these departments to be in good condition at this time, and that there have been large additions to the library and cabinet. The general appearance of the interior of our building has been greatly improved within the last six months by judicious cleaning and painting by our new janitor.

As the real estate bequeathed to the Society by Mr. Salisbury came into its legal possession immediately after the probating of the will, the income derived therefrom, amounting to about $365 on the first of April, has been credited to the Society by the Executors. This income for the year from the property as it is now rented will amount to a little less than $1000 out of which the taxes and running expenses must be deducted. The Salisbury Mansion lot contains 24,450 square feet and is assessed for about $37,000. While a valuable property, it is not, on account of its location, adapted for building purposes for the Society and it should

1This list is given at the close of the report of the Council.

either be sold or exchanged for land more favorably located for our uses. This matter might be put into the hands of our Finance Committee with power to act, if thought expedient by the Society.

The death of our President caused a vacancy on the Library Committee which has been filled by the appointment of MR. WALDO LINCOLN.

Besides that of the President the Council regrets to announce the death of James D. Butler, LL. D., of Madison, Wisconsin, who died November 20, 1905 at the age of 91 years, and of Samuel P. Langley, D. C. L., of Washington, D. C., who died at Aiken, S. C., February 27, 1906, notices of whom will be presented by our biographer.

By the original Act of Incorporation of the Antiquarian Society, which was approved by Gov. Caleb Strong, October 24, 1812, it was provided "that the annual income of any real estate by said Society holden, shall never exceed the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, and that the personal estate thereof, exclusive of books, papers and articles in the Museum of said Society, shall never exceed the value of seven thousand dollars."

In February, 1894, by request of the Society, the following amendment was made to its Act of incorporation:

An act to authorize the American Antiquarian Society to hold additional real and personal estate.

Be it enacted, etc., as follows:

Section 1. The American Antiquarian Society is hereby authorized to hold real and personal estate, in addition to books, papers and articles in its cabinet, to an amount not exceeding five hundred thousand dollars.

Section 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. Approved February 26, 1894.

This act made legal the holding of property heretofore acquired and also provided for expected additions.

Since the passage of this amendment a general law has been enacted: "Revised Laws, Chapter 125, Section 8,"