tion of the members, a large collection of origi-ing, the names of persons to fill vacancies occanal manuscripts from his own library connected with the proceedings of the Commission, by which the northern boundary was settled, as it now is, in 1769. The paper of Mr. Parker attracted much attention, and on motion of Hon. Wm. L. Dayton, it was— sioned by the death of Governor Parris, Judge Preble, and Solomon Thayer, Esq. The number of resident members was limited to seventy-five; the present number is seventy-two. The report of the librarian, on the cabinet and library, showed the collections of the society, in this department, to be very valuable. They contain a series of medals, issued by the Government of the United States, from its establishment, to lection of coins of early date, many manuscripts, pamphlets, newspapers, quite a collection of manuscript sermons of our divines in the last century, Smith, Deane, Coffin, of Buxton, etc., and many printed volumes and pamphlets of occasional discourses, and a large collection of printed volumes of early and modern date. There are, also, the original papers of Mr. Wil "Resolved-That the thanks of the Society be presented to the Hon. James Parker for his valuable paper upon the subject of the Boundary Disputes with New York, and that he be re-various persons for meritorious services, a colquested to furnish the Society with such additional details respecting the several Commissions as may be in his possession." tory of Maine, the Pejepscot papers, relating to the title and settlements on the Androscoggin and Kennebec rivers, and many other documents and works of rare and various interest. Judge Dayton remarked, in substance, that the settlement of the northern boundary, which had been particularly explained by Mr. Whitehead, was a matter which had not only affected the relations of New York and New Jersey, but from its having made a great change in the posi-liamson, collected for the preparation of his histion of the northwestern corner of the State, had necessarily affected the interests of both the eastern and western proprietors, and of those holding lands under them, as it necessarily occasioned a material change in the direction of In the afternoon, a public meeting was held the line dividing their respective lands. It was at the Court-house, attended by the Governor therefore a matter of great importance to a large of the State, councillors, senators, and reprenumber of landholders, and particularly to mem-sentatives; and among the members were Presibers of the bar, that all possible light should be thrown upon the proceedings of the commissioners settling the boundary, as well as upon subsequent and preceding events; and suggested to Mr. Whitehead the propriety of engaging in the required examination and collection of the various documents and authorities bearing upon the subject. Chief Justice Green in behalf of Miss Leake, presented copies of the correspondence between Colonel Mawhood of the British forces and Col. Hand of the American army, proposing to the latter to surrender, and each man to depart to his home, etc., dated in Salem county, in March, 1778. The society then adjourned to meet in Newark on the third Thursday of May next. ΜΑΙΝΕ. MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.-(Officers, vol. i. 113.) A special meeting of the society was held at Augusta, January 27th; the President, Hon. William Willis, of Portland, presiding. At the business meeting, in the morning, the treasurer's report was read, which exhibited a favorable state of the finances of the society, notwithstanding there have been published five octavo volumes of its transactions, at an expense of about $3,000. A committee on nominations was appointed to present, at the annual meet dent Woods, of Bowdoin College, Mr. Gardiner, of Gardiner, Hon. Messrs. Frederick Allen and S. W. Bradbury, Rev. Dr. Tappan, and others. The President exhibited two original manuscript treaties made with the Eastern Indians, at Portsmouth, N. H., in 1713 and 1714, bearing the original signatures of the Indians by their totems, or symbols, and attested by the principal gentlemen of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, present as commissioners or spectators. These have been loaned to the society by Frederick Kidder, Esq., of Boston, for publication in the next volume of the society's collections, where they will appear with fac similes of the totems and signatures of witnesses. Mr. Kidder also furnished an Indian spelling book, published nearly thirty years ago, entirely in the Abenaqui language. These curious works were examined with much interest, and the thanks of the society were voted to Mr. Kidder for the use of them. The President also exhibited a book belonging to him, which had been the hand-book, or vade mecum of Father Ralle, the Jesuit missionary, during his long service of thirty-five years, 1689 to 1724, among various tribes of Indians. The book was taken by the troops under Col. Westbrook, in their attack on the Indian village at Norridgewock, in 1721. Ralle and the Indians, having notice of the approach of the assailants, made a hasty retreat, leaving their papers and property behind them. The papers and his strong box were seized, and were fortunately found to contain the valuable vocabulary of the Abenaqui language, a manuscript quarto volume, now in the library of Harvard College, and which has been given to the public by the learned John Pickering, in the memoirs of the American Academy. The book exhibited was among the spoils; it is in Latin, published at Leyden, in 1582, and is entitled, "Medulla theologia moralis, facili perspicua methodo resolvens casus conscientia." It had a venerable appearance, and bore the marks of frequent reference; the leaves had been gilt edged, and the binding of a substantial and handsome quality. The venerable father whose presence seemed to be revived in this cherished relic, was an able Latin scholar, and conversed fluently in that language: he also understood the language of several Indian nations, beside those of his own charge. The vocabulary so happily secured was a benefaction to succeding times of great value; and this hand-book, now renewing our acquaintance with the ancient father of the church, and the benefactor of his beloved flock, and, we may add, bitter foe of the English, was examined with much interest. Mr. Willis gave an account of the volume, and verified its title to historic fame. A paper was then read by the Rev. Rufus K. Sewall, of Wiscasset, on early Indian remains on the Sheepscot and Damariscotta rivers, describing the great and mysterious beds of oyster and clam shells, which existed long prior to English discoveries, and spoke especially of a recent exploration of the remains of a large Indian settlement, near the mouth of the Sheepscot river. He exhibited various articles taken from the locality, and contended that, in this region, was the ancient Norumbega, mentioned by early voyagers. At this point, an interesting discussion took place among the members on this theory of the location of Norumbega, and on the origin of the shell deposits. Mr. Sewall showed much research and a careful analysis of his facts. A paper was afterwards read by Hon. J. M. Bradbury, from the papers of the late venerable Henry Sewall, giving an account of the Sewall family, and sketches of other early settlers on the Kennebec river; an interesting document. An adjourned meeting was held in the evening, well attended by gentlemen and ladies. After some introductory remarks by the president, urging attention to the subject of collecting and transmitting to the society records, documents, and other materials, illustrative of the history of the State, and showing what the society has already done in this direction, a paper was read by the Rev. J. S. C. Abbott, drawn up by the Hon. Frederick Allen, a veteran leader of the Kennebec bar, giving sketches of the members of the Lincoln and Kennebec bars, from their origin to the present day. These were ably drawn and exceedingly interesting; they embrace the Cushings and Sullivans, before the revolution, and Gardiner, Wilde, Bridge, Bond, Bailey, Rice, Lee, Orr, and others, afterwards, who held high rank in this honorable profession. The reading was interpersed with discussions and reminiscences of these and other members of the bar, which gave interest and animation to the meeting. The concluding paper was an address by Mr. Willis, the president, in which he traced the Scotch emigrations, at various times, to Ireland, with their causes, and thence to this country. He showed, particularly, how the population of Maine was constituted, the western part of the state being of the pure English stock, from the west of England, the eastern part pure French, for the first one hundred years, and the middle part heterogeneous German-English, but mostly of the Scotch-Irish immigrations, commencing in 1718 and continuing to the time of the revolution. He also spoke of the various colonies of this latter race, that went to Pennsylvania and the Middle States, with a summary of the origin, progress, and present state of Presbyterianism, of which the Scotch were sturdy representatives. The address was listened to with much attention, and received great favor as communicating new and useful information. The Scotch-Irish element was shown to have entered much more largely into the basis of our population than was hitherto suspected. The meeting was a very successful one, and showed the Society to be full of activity and up to the standard of the times. The 5th volume of their Transactions, recently published, has received warm commendation for its able and original articles, throwing much light on the early and latter history of the State. NEW YORK. NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.-(Officers, No. 2, p. 55.) The regular monthly meeting was held at the society's building, on Tuesday evening, February 2d. Hon. Luther Bradish, the President, in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The reports of the various committees having been heard, a number of new members were elected and others nominated. The librarian acknowledged the receipt of "A Diary of a Prisoner in the Provoost Jail during the Revolutionary War;" also, "The A resolution of respect to the memory of Crawford, the sculptor, was adopted, and inviting Professor George W. Greene to address the society upon his life and character, at an early day. Letter-book of Gerard Beekman." The thanks of the Portuguese Legation in London; pubof the society were voted to Mr. James B. Mur-lished in London in 1854. The Recording Secreray, for a valuable addition to the picture gal-tary read a notice of this work, from which we lery. learn that it "bears honorable testimony to the diligence as well as the learning of the author." Long and patient labor was devoted to the investigation of many manuscripts, which were almost illegible from bad orthography, or injuries suffered. Succinct and instructive accounts are given of the most important, with references to history, and suggestions and remarks. The preface contains a brief history of the British Museum, and the several libraries collected in it. The Treasurer (Mr. Cotheal), reported the receipt of the second number, volume fifth, of the Translations of the American Oriental Society. It contains articles on the Nestorian Tablet of Singanfu (China), proving its genuineness; on the Scriptures of the religion of Zoroasteet; on the Sanscrit verbal accent, etc. The paper of the evening, "The Prison-ships of the Revolution," was read by Hon. George Taylor. He gave an accurate and detailed account of the sufferings endured by American prisoners in the prison-ships in New York and other harbors. Mr. O'Reilly moved a vote of thanks for the eloquent address, illustrating the sufferings of our countrymen. Mr. Strong seconded the motion, with a few appropriate remarks, thanking the gentleman for his interesting paper. Dr. Bacon read a paper on the languages spoken in New York city. Eighty languages he said, are used in business and social intercourse among the inhabitants of this city. He gave an interesting account of each, showing its origin and character. More languages are spoken here than in any other city in the world. Thanks were voted to Dr. Bacon for his valuable paper. Rev. Dr. Hawks offered a series of resolutions, requesting the Secretary of State, at Washington, to use his influence for the continuation of the American Archives, prepared by Hon. Peter Force. Mr. O'Rielly moved an adoption of the resolutions, which was carried; and a committee of five, to be appointed by the chair, to wait upon the Secretary of State and present the same. Mr. Taylor said that Mr. Cass had already sent a letter to Congress upon the subject, and he thought the work would be soon resumed. The librarian presented a resolution, granting the use of the hall to Rembrandt Peale, Esq., on the evening of the 22d, and inviting him to deliver his lecture upon the "Portraits of Washington," under the auspices of the society, which was adopted. The society then adjourned. AMERICAN ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY.-The regular meeting for December, 1857, was held in the Historical Society's building, in this city, the President, Dr. Robinson, in the chair. Mr. Figaniere (Portuguese Minister) presented to the Society the Catalogue of Portuguese Manuscripts in the British Museum ("Catalogo dos Manuscriptos Portugueses existentes em Museo Britanico, por Frederico F. de la Figaniere,") 420 pages, 12mo., compiled by his son, First Attaché A short notice was read of the Archæological Society of Athens (Greece). That association was founded May 10th (April 28th, O.S.,) 1837. It may be considered the successor of the Society of the "Friends of the Muses," which existed under the Turkish domination. Its publications show that it has accomplished important labors, and made many interesting discoveries. It is under the patronage of the government, and in co-operation with the Conservator of the National Museum, who has the custody of the numerous and valuable antiquities which it has brought to light. The object of the Archæological Society, as expressed in its constitution, ("Organismos"), is "to contribute to the discovery, repair, and restoration of antiquities in Greece." The annual meetings are held in the Acropolis, usually in the Parthenon. The annual reports, published in Greek and French, comprise a history of the principal labors and results; and the illustrated Monthly Magazine (Ephemeris Archaiologiche), contains every year two or three hundred lithographic fac similes of inscriptions, &c., with transcripts and restorations, and many pages of descriptions and explanations in modern Greek, together with a series of learned and instructive essays on various appropriate topics, on which much light has been thrown by recent discoveries. These two publications were added by Mr. Folsom to his library during his visit to Athens. Mr. Pittakis, the learned and diligent secretary of the Archæological Society, has performed the chief part of the labor of publication, as his name is subscribed to most of the written articles; but he has several able co-operators. On the Acropolis of Athens, where the ground appears to have been at length entirely excavated to the bottom of the deepest founda. tions, everything before concealed in the rub-posed once belonged to the temple of Ceres at bish has now been discovered and carefully exa- that place (now replaced by a Greek church), mined. Among the many interesting objects mentioned by Pausanias. there brought to light, are several portions of the frieze of the Parthenon, which are missing among the Elgin marbles in the British Museum. Casts of that collection have been sent from the British Museum to the society in Athens. Among the numerous interesting subjects treated in that magazine, the November number of 1852 contains one of a peculiarly original character, entitled "Proofs that the present inhabitants of Greece are descendants of the ancient Greeks." Here Mr. Pittakis gives us twenty quarto pages of quotations in closely printed matter, from various ancient Greek classical writers, with words or phrases in use at the present day, in idiomatical peculiarities so. strikingly correspondent as to afford evidence, irresistible it is thought, of uninterrupted hereditary tradition. Although every person conversant with modern Greek, must have observed remarkable cases of this nature, few foreigners, if any, could ever have carried discoveries in such a department so far; or could have been prepared to expect their existence in such numbers. Among the interesting restorations made by the Athenian Society, is that of the ancient sundials on the eight sides of the celebrated Tower of the Winds, on the Acropolis. By the erection of gnomons, the sun now throws its shadows as formerly, and marks the hours according to their ancient system, by means of the curved lines engraved on the stone walls, whose design was so long a matter of conjecture, thus verifying an allusion of Varro to the object for which they were made. Remains have also been discovered of the ancient hydraulic time-piece, which was constructed near the Parthenon, the ruins of the channel and reservoir having been discovered by excavation. Mr Folsom stated cursorily that whilst at Athens, in 1855, he made inquiries respecting the supposed columns of the "Tower of the Winds," which differ materially from the recognized orders of Grecian architecture, and copies of which are seen on many of our public buildings. There are no such columns now remaining attached to the Tower of the Winds, and it is uncertain whether the fragments found near that structure ever belonged to it. These fragments are now seen collected with others within the inclosure on the summit of the Acropolis. Mr. Folsom observed two or three capitals of similar columns at Patras (Greece), which it is sup | MASSACHUSETTS. NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY.-(Officers, No. 2, p. 53). The Society met January 20, at their room, No. 5, Tremont street, Boston. Samuel G. Drake, A.M., President, made his inaugural address. After thanking the Society for the unsought honor which they had conferred upon him, he proceeded to give a brief sketch of the Society. He congratulated his associates upon the large success which had attended their labors; remarking that no association of this nature in our country had done more in the same space of time; and no one was more extensively known abroad. This latter fact, he said, is owing to the publication of the "Historical and Genealogical Register," which is issued under its auspices. This work has spread the fame of the Society extensively in Europe. Englishmen had wondered that such a work could be sustained in the United States, when it is remembered that every similar attempt in England had failed. Mr. Drake adverted to the value of pamphlets and the importance of their preservation; their worth increasing with their age. Rev. Caleb D. Bradlee read an interesting Memoir of Fenelon, which enlisted the attention and the sensibilities of those who were so fortunate as to be present. He gave some weighty reasons for believing that Fenelon was never in America, as has been maintained. On motion of Dr. Barrows, the thanks of the Society were tendered to Mr. Bradlee, and he was requested to furnish a copy for preservation in the archives of the Society. Rev. Martin Moore read a valuable paper on Edward Winslow, one of the Puritans who came over in the "May Flower." On motion, the thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Moore, and a copy of his paper was requested for preservation. Mr. Frederick Kidder exhibited an autograph letter of Edward Winslow, dated Marshfield, 2nd August, 1644, relative to the claim of New England upon the settlement at Hartford, in which Mr. Winslow was disposed to concede something to the Dutch. Dr. Joseph Palmer read a brief obituary notice of Andrew F. Warner, of Cromwell, Conn., a resident member of the Society recently deceased. The meeting was then dissolved. Notes and Queries. NOTES. TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA: BY THE MARQUIS DE CHASTELLUX.-(vol. i. pp. 55-90.) The following extract from the preface to "A View of the Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution, in Thirteen Discourses preached in North America, between the years 1763 and 1775, by Jonathan Boucher, A.M," (8vo. London, 1797,) may prove serviceable in recalling attention to the original query, and at the same time, establish some grounds for supposing the Rev. Mr. Boucher-an able Church of England clergyman in Virginia and Maryland, and a staunch loyalist and refugee-to be the author of the anonymous pamphlet "Remarks on the Travels of the Marquis de Chastellux," alluded to on page 90, vol. i., as the production "of no common hand," but of "a person well acquainted with America." "I know not how far I may be permitted, with propriety, to reckon 2 vols. in 8vo. of Travels in North America in 1780, 1781, and 1792,' by the Marquis de Chastellux, as historical and relating to the Revolution. Never was an author more fortunate in a translator; it appears to have been the steady purpose of both author and translator to conciliate the regards of the people of America, not only by flattering them, but also by vilifying the people of Great Britain. In pursuing this purpose, their confidence in assertion is hardly more conspicuous than their want of candor; and, like infidels in general, their credulity in believing Americans possessed of every virtue, is as remarkable as their incredulity in disbelieving any testimonies in favor of Britons. Their shameless partiality, however, has defeated its own end; the book has now sunk into very general neglect, owing no doubt to its author's having so very little accurate knowledge of the character, the circumstances, or the politics of the people of whom it professes to give a faithful account." WATERTOWN, MASS. W. S. P. Before invading Connecticut, Gen. Tryon addressed to Gen. Putnam and Parsons the following letter: "NEW YORK, June 18th, 1779. "SIR: By one of his majesty's ships of war, which arrived here last night from Georgia, we have intelligence that the British forces were in possession of Fort Johnstone, near Charleston, the first of June. The following caustic reply by Gen. Parsons closed the correspondence: "CAMP, HIGHLANDS, September 7th, 1779. "SIR: I should have paid an earlier attention to your polite letter of the 18th of June, had I not entertained some hope of a personal interview with you, in your descent upon the defenceless Towns of Connecticut, to execute your master's vengeance upon the rebellious women and forduced by your insidious proclamations to remidable hosts of boys and girls, who were inhad been suffered to continue in the enjoyment main in those hapless places, and who, if they of that peace their age and sex entitled them to expect from civilized nations, you undoubtedly supposed would prove the scourge of Britain's veteran troops, and pluck from you those laurels with which that fiery expedition so plentifully crowned you. But your sudden departure from Norwalk, and the particular attention you paid to your personal safety, when at that place, and the prudent resolution you took, to suffer the town of Stamford to escape the conflagration to which you had devoted Fairfield and Norwalk, prevented my wishes on that head. This will, I hope, sufficiently apologize for my delay in answering your last letter. By letters from France, we have intelligence that his Catholic Majesty declared war against Great Britain in June last; that the combined fleets of France and Spain, amounting to more than sixty sail of five thousand land forces, are now meditating a the line, having formed a junction with twentyblow on the British dominions in Europe; and that the grand fleet of Old England find it very inconvenient to venture far from their harbors. In the West Indies, Admiral Byron, having greatly suffered in a naval engagement, escaped, with his ships in a very shattered condition, to St. Christophers, and covered his fleet under the batteries on the shores, and has suffered himself to be insulted in the road of that island by the French Admiral; and Count de Estaing, after reducing the islands of St. Vincent and Grenada to the obedience of France, defeating and disabling the British fleet, has sailed for Hispaniola where it is expected he will be joined by the Spanish fleet in those seas, and attack Jamaica. "The storming your strong works at Stony |