Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-22
dMottester 4alIg Spy.
The American Antiquarian society.

The American Antiquarian Society.
The 5lst annual meeting of the American
Antiquarian Society was held at the hail Of
the society in this city, yesterday, the presi-
dent, Hon. Stephen Salisbury, in the chair.
The president read the annual report of the
council, stating that arrangements had been
made for the commemoration Of the close of
the first half century of the existence of the
society, which, it was hoped, would be deem
ed suitable and satisfactory, although the con-
diton OF affairs in the country was not favor.
able to such public display as might be APP
proprIate in happier days. OF the earliest
members of the society, but four are living,
and they were now with us. The Hon. Josiah
Quincy gave his name as one OF the corporate
members named in the charter, and has always
been prominent in this society as in every
other good enterprise. The president could
not omit to inform Mr.. Quincy of the interest,"
ing circumstances of this meeting, without
the expectation ofhs personal presence which
well known and widely lamented casualty
had rendered impossible, and he sent the fol-
lowing reply:
STEPHEN SALISBURY, ESQ. :-Sir,-I am
honored by your kind and very flat
tenng invitation to be present at
the celebration of the iftieth anniversary
of the first meeting of your antiquarian so.
ciety, but accident has deprived me of ia
cility of loGomoton, and Worcester is be-
yond the sphere OF my ability. The tempta-
tlons you offer are great; but among the
losses to which it is the duty of old aye to be
submissive, the chietest is that of intellectual
qualification 1t would, indeed, quicken an
old mans pulse, and give new and delightful
vibrations TO his heart, to hear again his old
and lifelong venerated contemporary, VIM.
Jtnks, repeating the lessons of his earliest
life in presence of society so well qualified to |
appreciate an address from talent improved by |
experience and illustrated by life devoted to
the cultivation of int lectual powers with a
success and usefulness of which he has him
self been so rare and instructive an example. |
on excite me to unite in your celebration by
stating that Gov. Lincoln would be present |
himself also the representative of long lite of
cultivated intellect of wise and successfully
directed industry, whose many years Of mag
lstracy, SO honorable for himself and SO happy
for ms country. Indeed, sir, it would be to
me rare qualification to take him again by
the hand and renew with him in our advanced
years the assurances Of reciprocated interest
aud respect, by which in manhood we were ac-
customed to meet and to greet and express
our mutual esteem; but the law of our nature
fUrbldS; and who shall not say it is not a law at
once happy and wise? You honor by reminding
ME that | am one of the founders of ''the |
American Antiquarian Society,"" and referring |
me to its act OF incorporation, after which |
could not refrain from recurring to that inter- |
estlng record where found my own associ- |
ated with host Of worthy names, some of
tIsf.t
manhood, many of them my intimate friends |
and beloved companions, whom | remember
in life, in hope, in joy, and usefulness, but
who now alas exist only as shadows in my
memory. But why alas? They have COM
pleted the task assigned by their Creator and,
L doubt not, now enjoying His presence
and appreciation.
Truly and respectfully yours,
JOSIAH Quincy.
Boston, 9th Oct, 1868.
The other three survivors of the original
members, ExGov. Lincoln and DR.. John
Green of this city, and Rev. DR.. jerks of
Boston, who were present, were also appro
priately alluded to, they having filled various
official positions in the society. Gov Lincoln
was the first treasurer, DR.. jerks the first
corresponding secretary, and DR.. Green Off
ciated as councillor for twenty-tour years.
The presence of these fathers of the society
called up the shadowy procession of those
fifty years. Appropriate reference was made
to the third president, Hon. Edward Everett,
Il letter from whom was read, and to the late
Hon. John Davis, the fourth president of the
society.
From the report of the librarian, Samuel +.
Haven, Esq, 1t appears that the additions to
the library during the past year were thirteen
hundred valuable books and three thousand
six hundred and fifty-one pamphlets in addi-
ton to original communications on important
antiquarian subjects. The bound volumes in
the library now number in all thirty-two thou
sand three hundred and twenty-nine. Among
the contributors the past year were Hon. Ste
phcn Salisbury, Hon. Isaac Davis, John C.
B. Davis, Esq, A. Nee. Davis, Esq, Nath.
Paine, Esq, Mrs. Salisbury, Frederick w.
Paine Esq, DIR. George Chandler, Senator
Sumner, Hon. Amasa Walker, William A.
Smith, Esq, Hon. Ira NJ. Barton, Mrs John
Davis Mrs. a. d. Foster, and Rev. Samuel
May, Jr., besides other donors from abroad,
including gifts from public associations in
other states. Pickering Dodge, Esq, has CON
tributed several additional volumes Of his in
terestiug and valuable record of the war
against secession.
The report Of the treasurer, Hon. Henry
Chapin, shows the present amount of the pub
fishing fund to be $G677.44, the librarians
and general fund S2l, 3y5l2, the collec-
ton and research fund $86SS29 and the
bookbinding fund $G440 55-making the ag-
gregate Of the four finds 43,20l.40. The
aggregate of cash on hand, included in the
foregoing statement, is $l25650.
Judge Thomas, in moving the acceptance of
the report of the council, made by Mr.. Sails
bury, said he regretted exceedingly that it had
been made by the president, thus depriving
the members Of the pleasure of hearing stated