The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-09-03
Meeting of the Maine and N. II. Historic

cal SOcsetieS NJ hOTuemousms
The hour of arrival at this place was too late /
to allow of any farther attention to the COM /
mittee than to provide for them an immediate !
disposal for the night. In the morning, after
the social breakfast had impaired its refresh
ment, the members enjoyed a space OF pleasant
intercourse with their associates in historical
studies, of N. H., at the buckingham House
forming new acqnaintances and taking oi
present and past events-more OF the iatiei'
than the former.
At a suitable hour the two societies met.
The President of the New Hampshire society
Hon G. H. Bell, of Exeter, made an ADDRESS Vi
welcome, relative to the union OF these sister
societies, which were organized for the same
purpose, and in district formerly united
under one charter, granted to Georges and Ma
son. He followed with many Historical state
ments relative to Wheelwright and others.
The Hon. Judge Bourne responded, aaG
spoke Of the successive days of pleasure en-
ioyed by the committee in historic explora-
tions, of which the present occa'ion is fitting
conclusion. In the history Of this and neighbor
ing towns, scarcely sentence can be written
without embracing ALL He referred to Wheel
wright, Wentworth and other worthless of New
Hampshire, and paralleled these worthless by a
reference to the worthy men of Maine, and the
iutermarriage of the people of the two States.
r. X. Sewall spoke of the settlements in
Maine, at an early day, and the influence on
the sediments all along the coast. He regard
ed the fitting out of an expedition from the Pts
cataqua against the early pirates, as the origin
of the great naval depot which was visited yes
Gbor1oc naapa Esu eYprpSSpH his
qualification at the present occasion, and
dwslt at some length on the difficulty of study
ing the history of N. H., and the means of un-
raveling its intrcacies, by the use of docu-
ments which may he yet discovered. Rev. Dr..
Ballard of Brunswi elk, said he was entitled to
speak for two reasons; as member of the Me-
Society, and an elected member of the N. H
Society. A native of the latter State he had
always been interested in its history. He Sc
lected what had been lately done end was now
doing, in the attainment of documents procur-
ed by Dr. Woods, in England. and the pros
pect of a speedy publication of one of the most
important. j. II. Sheppard, Esq, of Boston,
referred to the last vol. of the Maine Society.
and the date of the voyage of Cabot. w. II
Y. Hackett, of Portsmouth, paid tribute OF
respect to the late William Willis,'a former
President of the Maine Society, and to his
work, claw and Lawyers
j. w. Bradbury, ESQ, of Augusta said that
our early histories of New England blended
into one; and illustrated his position by the
visit of Samoset to the pilgrims of Plymouth;
and paid his tribute to Webster and the other
| great men of this State.
The Rev. DR.. Woods said that remark o.
Bancroft, that the different States of New
England though generally alike had their par
ticular and peculiar distinctions, was worthy
of consideration. 1t had been thought by DR..
Kohl that the Gulf Stream had had an inf
ence in determining the place of the early set
| Elements, whether North or South. Gilbert
became Northern and Raleigh a Southern
man. Vigorous efforts were made for Raleigh
but when he failed, attention was turned to
the North and Norombega became the centre
| of effort. Many other prominent remarks
were made in this instructive address.
The Rev. DR.. Bouton of Concord told what
| the New Hampshire Society had done, and
| what it was about to do in its publications OF
| documents of exceedingly great promise.
| Mr.. Hatch of Portsmouth (who spoke OF
himself as young man in the presence of so
many seniors, although 10 the course of the
morning he had been introduced to class
mate whom he had not seen for thirty seven
| years)-spoke of the influence of history in
forming chain of sympathy between the past
! and the present, and more fully developed the
| idea.
| Hon. John A. Poor referred to the great
| mind Of Webster, impressed on the country,
| and then turned to the original charters and
| their success in the colonization CT our land,
and with many other important suggestions
relating to Gov. Bradford and others he closed
in speaking in behalf of Maine.
The Rev. DR.. Peabody of Cambridge, gave
single Renaissance in regard to case of dis
ciplineA at, Harvard College in ancient times,
where o refractory student had been restored
to his lost position, not for his persistence, hut
because his father had gvan ths casting vote
! for a grant of New Hamshire land to that in
| stitution. The Rev. DR.. Packard proposed a
| vote of thanks. Mr.. Bradbury in secoDding it,
| suggested that measures be taken to hold a
union meeting of all the New England Histor-
| cal Societies. The gentlemen of the different
! societies in Massachusetts,, returned their indi
vidnal thanks; and the meeting of uncommon
interest of more. than three hours dissolved,
to partake of collation. preparatory to the de-
| parture of distant attendants
| This gathering to day has afforded the great
est pleasure satisfaction and will doubtless
| lead to warm, successful results AS to enjoy
ment it has been
"The feast of reason, a Historical repast,
| and 'the flow of SOUL"