The Portland daily press., 1868-07-13

We take from the Star of Saturday an ac-
count of the proceedings of the Maine Histori-
cal Society at its annual meeting, held at
Brunswick, Friday:
The librarian, Prof. A. S. Packard stated
that the prospect Of increasing the collection
of books is very hattering. There are now 196
volumes and 296 pamphlets The Rev. Mr.
Ballard in behalf of the standing committee
read very interesting report of the transac-
tions of that committee during the past year.
He stated Mt length the purposes intended to
be observed by the publication of an annual
volume under the liberal appropriation et the
State. The work is intended to be in a great
degree documentary, with maps and letter
press descriptions, in order to more fully elu-
cidate that portion of our colonial and still
earlier history which has hitherto been but lit
tie understood by the public The labor of the
committee has been subdivided into two 1ivi-
sions, the one embracing the period of discov-
cry, and the other taking in the period of early
occupation. Ample materials have been found
to fill the volume which is to be devoted to
the first of these periods. .fs
The volume is to be enriched by 20 or 30
maps of the coast of Maine, showing the state
and formation of the coast prior to 1900. These
maps are to be taken from the originals now
in repositories in Europe. The explanations
accompanying the maps will make sufficiently
clear the progress OF discovery. Great credit
is due to DR.. Woods now in Paris for acting as
agent of the society, for his successful efforts
in their behalf By the kindness of eminent
Swans abr lad, DR.. Woods has been enabled to
obtain access to some of the rarest public
and private collections of historical works in
Europe. He has pursued his labors with
marked success in London, and is now equal
ly fortunate in Paris. Through DR.. Wood
agency, arrangements have been made to Sc
cure an interchange of books between this
society and kindred societies abroad. At the
suggestion of His Excellency Governor
Chamberlain, and through the exertions of
Hon. 7. A: d. Fessenden,, bill has passed
State documents as shall be necessary to
throw light upon the early history of the
State. The committee stated that they were
confident that the forthcoming volume would
be the most valuable work upon the subject
of early discoveries ever published.
The following gentlemen were elected MEM
bers: Samuel L. Boardman, of Augusta; VIM,
H. Witherlee, Castine; Right Rev. Henry A
Nicely Portland; John ID. Lincoln, M d. Bruins
wick; r. Fl. Gardiner, Gardiner; Benjamin f.
Tolman. All the above to fill vacancies. The
following were elected as additional members
under the constitution of the society, which al
lows three each year until the number shall
reach 100:-Hon. John Lynch NJ c., Portland !;
Hon. Nathan Clifford, Portland; A. d. Lock
wood, Lewiston. A fine photograph of CHAM
plain the ex plorer and disc3yerer, was pre-
scented to each member by Hon. Charles j.
Gilman. The thanks of the society were ten
dered Mr. Gilman for his courtesy
Hon. I. A. ID. Fessenden presented a curl
GUS map of New England, the original of
which was made in 1909.
The following officers were elected for the
ensuing year: President E. e. Bourne; Vice
President, j. w. Bradbury; Corresponding
Secretary, s. f. Dixie; Recording Secretary,
Edw. Ballard; Treasurer, A. C. Robbins; Lii
brarian, A. S. Packard.
A large number of gentlemen were elected
to the honorary degree of corresponding mem
Der.