Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-07-24

cdlleu W oiuer Oh w wednesday, morning AT ~
o'clock, Elk Gov. Inland HALL President of
the Society in the chair. In the absence of the
Recording Secretary ALBERT ID. HAGER of
Cayendish, one of the Corresponding Secreta-
ries of the Society, was deputed to act in his
stead. The morning session was devoted to
business matters and consultation upon some
subjects that in due time will he elaborated and
laid before the Society in papers of interest and
value.
Wednesday Afternoon.
The Society met at three o'clock. The Rev.
PIINY II. WHITE OF Coventry read a well pre-
pared and highly interesting sketch of Col BAR
TON who captured an English General at New
port, Rhode Island, during the War of the Revo-
luton and afterward settled in Barton, and from
whom the town derived its name. Like some
other prominent Vermonters he was in Jail lin
its considerable portion of his life, having
been kept on the limits at Danville, but unlike
most of the others he was released at the ur-
gent solicitation of Gen. Lafayette, while on his
visit TO this country in 1925, and through
means furnished by this distinguished friend of
America.
HENRY CLARK Esq, of Poultney read val
liable paper on the early history Of that town.
In preparing an address for the centennial eel
ebration of the charter of the town of Poultney
last year he had access TO a large mass of ma
terial, unfortunately since destroyed, which he
wrought with rare skill into an interesting town
history.
The Hon. HAMPDEN CUTTs of this village
read a very eXcellently prepared biographical
sketch of the late Hon. PAUL SPooNER, of
which sketch we give the following abstract:
PAUL SPooNER was born at New Bedford,
Mass, Chen DARTMOUTH March 20, l745. He
acquired good educa ton at Petersham, Mass.
About l76S he removed TO Hartldnd, VT, and
entered upon the practice of the medical pro-
fession. He was chosen in June 1175 mem
Der of the Provincial Congress which met at
New York. In I'LL he was appointed High
Sheriff of Cumberland County-which Office he
declined. DR.. Spooner was a member of the
Council of Safety. He was Town Clerk of
and Representative from the town of Hartland,
Potato Register and Judge of Probat", and
in 1852 was elected Lieut.. Governor of the
State, aud in l7S6 was made Chief Justice OF
Vermont.
Judge Cuts gave an interesting account OF
DIR. Sroohcr's character ard his paper was pro-
nouhced in manner and tone that was audible
throughout hall not particularly noticeable
for its good acoustic properties.
Thursday Morning, July II.
The Society met at the Town Hall at 10
oclock-lhe President and George F. Hough-
ton the Recording Secretary being in attend
ance.
HENRY 7. TUoKERMAN, Esq, of New York
city, Author of the "Optimist" and other pop
ular works. read genial, scholarly and elabor.
ate paper upon Civilization in North America
which was highly pleasing to an appreciative
audience.
After this w0s short recess to enable mem
bers to procure their certificates of attendanc,
upon the meeting, which entitled them to FREE
return passage over the different railroads il
the State and connecting roads in Massachu
sets. Upon resuming business the following
gentlemen were on IL oton elected to member
ship:
Hon. William Clapp, Burlington; Rev
Francis w. Smith, Henry X. Adams, Worth
ington C. Smith, Edward A. Smith, Col Geo
A. Stannard, St. Adams Hon. Alfred Keith
Sheldon; Nelson II. Arlington, Bakersfield
Jason Steele, Wndsor John Boardman Page
Rutland Albert Clark, Montpelier, Henry d
Houghton, Putneyi Hiram circuit, A. G
Nourse, Brattleboro.
The Hon. PHILIP HENRY MOORE of Phil
lipsburgh, Canada East, member of the Pro
yinca Parliament, was elected n Correspond
ing member of the Society. The Hon. RoBER
CHARLES WINTHROP of Boston, and SAMUE
WELLS WILLIAMS, l.. L. D., of Macao, China
were on motion elected Honorary members c
the Society.
The Rev. ]. DoUGHERTY of Johnson was o
motion invited to read before the Society at i,
next special meeting in January, 1868, pNpe
: upon the life and services of the late Rev. AS
= LYON of Grand Isle.
GEORGE b. REED, Esq, of Montpelier, wa
by special vote requested to prepare and rea
I before the Society at the next annual Meetin
paper on the Early History of Banking
Vermont
. The Rev. WILLIAM CLARK, formerly Mi,
/ sionary at Constantnople and now one of tn