The old Denison Light Infantry flag has pleasant company now in the flintlock musket and bayonet, cartridge box and belts, aud cap with waving plume, worn by the late Asa Kinsman a half century ago, the gift of Gustavus Kinsman.

The Treadwell's island shell heap has yielded other human remains for our prehistoric relics, including a skull, found in many fragments, which the skill of Dr. Stockwell has restored so far that we can see its general shape, and discover the mark of the two deadly blows which brought the relief of death, perhaps, to some long-tortured sufferer.

Mr. Richard M. Saltonstall has contributed a sumptuous volume of Saltonstall Genealogy, and Mr. Robert C. Winthrop has given repeated evidences of his regard in the gift of many valuable volumes. Miss Joanna Caldwell has deposited a very valuable collection of family documents. Many other articles have been deposited in our care, and in recognition of the kindness of the donors, I submit a list of names of all who have contributed to our success in this manner.

The room has been open to the public every Saturday afternoon with two or three exceptions during the year. Many strangers found their way thither in the vacation months, and many of our townspeople, especially the children, have come to show their interest. A Visitors' Book has been kept, and six hundred and eighty names have been recorded. Many have registered more than once, but others have made no entry, and this large number is a fairly correct indication of the number of visitors since Dec. 13, 1896.

The publications of the Society have been increased by a single pamphlet containing the addresses at the dedication of the Memorial Tablets and the annual reports. Another

of larger size will soon be placed in the hands of our members. It is a matter of regret that the limited funds of our Society prevent it from undertaking the work of publishing old records and valuable documents, as well as original contributions to our local history.

The marking of historic spots is an inviting work, and one that should be accomplished as speedily as possible. A generous member of the Society has already signified his desire of erecting suitable markers on the site of the residence of John Winthrop and that of Ann Bradstreet, as soon as the localities shall be determined with reasonable probability. Denison's place of residence is easily identified. Elder Paine deserves recognition for his munificent gift of the first school house of which we know. Deputy Governor Symonds' Argilla farm house was a notable place in its day. Its site is accurately known and should be marked. A memorial, worthy of Rev. John Wise and the brave co-patriots of 1687, should find place among us. Their resistance to Governor Andros has given rise to the legend on our town seal. The town owes them a larger debt of gratitude than can be discharged in this simple fashion.

A

In line with this work, the preservation of old landmarks may be included. Many of the most interesting old houses have disappeared, and the death-knell of others may be sounded ere we are aware of any danger. Our town owes no small portion of its great and growing attractiveness to strangers to its venerable mansions. cultivated young lady, from Detroit, Mich., came here during the summer in the course of an historical pilgrimage to towns of historical renown, particularly to those with which her own ancestral history was interwoven. After seeing our places of interest, and the many old houses with lean-to roofs and great chimney-stacks, she

exclaimed, "I have just visited Plymouth and Concord and Lexington and other places, but I have nowhere found so many residences of venerable age, and the beauty of the town charms me."

Hezekiah Butterworth, the author of many books of travel, and romances founded on historic facts, spent a few hours in surveying our old landmarks, and as we sat on the top of our beautiful Town Hill, after looking at the ancient gravestones in the quiet yard, he gazed at the splendid landscape and said with much earnestness, " I have been amid the mountains of our own land, and among the Alps and the Andes, I have lived years in Europe, I have seen more sublime views, but I know of no more varied and beautiful quiet rural scenery than this."

One of our old houses, the very oldest in all probability, is fast falling into complete decay, the old Whipple house, as I must call it, now owned by Mr. James W. Bond. In its day it was a grand mansion, and some of its rooms are inspiring to-day even in their ruin. Is it not worth our while as a Society to purchase it if it be possible, and repair and restore it to some semblance of its old self? It possesses rare interest as a specimen of the architecture of the later 17th century. Dr. Lyon, of Hartford, Conn., an expert admirer of olden architecture, has visited it again and again. The most careless sight-seer is impressed with its antiquity. It should be rescued from utter ruin for its own intrinsic value.

But apart from this, our room will soon be too small for exhibition purposes. If space were available, it would be well used with exhibits of tools and machinery of antiquated pattern, with cumbrous articles of domestic furniture, and with many departments of our historical collection, in which`a beginning should be made. This old house, with its hallowed memories, so broad and capa

cious, would be an admirable home for our Society. It is a wooden edifice to be sure, but a large vault might be constructed for the most precious heirlooms. If some generous and broad-minded friend of the Society and of the town were minded to erect for us a fire-proof building of brick or stone, that would be our ideal. But such a structure exists as yet only in our dreams. This old mansion is not beyond our reach, and it has the fine attributes of age and size. Once housed within its venerable walls, with our collection of andirons, and all the appurtenances of the fire-place in their proper places, with kitchen and parlor and chamber supplied with proper furniture, with room for many collections, our Society would spring at once into conspicuous honor and usefulness.

Respectfully submitted,

T. FRANK WATERS.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY, DEC. 6, 1897.

On the evening of December 7, 1896, the annual meeting of the Historical Society was held at the Society's room in the Odd Fellows Building.

The President gave an interesting review of the work of the Society during the year, enumerating the many gifts which had been made, and closing with an eulogy on Mr. John Perkins who had died during the year. His remarks on Mr. Perkins were supplemented by Mr. Nourse, who moved that a committee be appointed to draft resolutions expressing our appreciation of Mr. Perkins as a man and a citizen. The committee appointed were J. W. Nourse, T. F. Waters and Joseph I. Horton, who reported the following resolution which was unanimously adopted by the Society: "The recent departure of our brother John Perkins has reminded the Ipswich Historical Society of the first loss in its membership, through death.

"As the name which he bore was the first name of a person written in our town records and has been associated with the town in each generation from its beginning, so those virtues that are first in the making of good citizens, and that give efficiency to all forms of social organization, are found continually illustrated in his life. Brother Perkins possessed, in a marked degree, selfcontrol, loyalty, brotherly kindness and patriotism.

re Therefore be it Resolved: That we will cherish the quality of citizenship of which he gave us so fine au example; and, while we lament his departure, we will enter this minute upon our records in grateful memory of his too brief association with us."

After listening to the reports of the Treasurer and Secretary (which were adopted), the Society proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing year as follows:President T. F. Waters, Vice Presidents Hon. Chas. A. Sayward and Hon. Frederick Willcomb, Treasurer Joseph I. Horton, Corresponding Secretary Milo H. Gates, Recording Secretary John H. Cogswell, Librarian Martin V. B. Perley.

The Society has had during the past year five lectures : the first, by Hon. Robert S. Rantoul of Salem, was given in the Parish House January 22, on the "First Cotton Mill in America" which he claimed was situated in North Beverly near the Old Baker Tavern, and the famous well from which Washington drank while on his triumphal tour through New England. It has been claimed that the First Cotton Mill in America was established by Samuel Slater in 1791, at Pawtucket, R. I.; but Mr. Rantoul proved by clear and conclusive testimony that a year before Mr. Slater set foot in America, cloth and corduroy were manufactured at the Mill in North Beverly. Cotton at that time could not be obtained in this country but was