The Portland daily press., 1870-02-12

the celebration was St. Johns day would 60
TO show that it was adopted after their con-
version to Catholicism, but there is abundant
evidence that they practised the custom long
before and did not take it from Europeans
that come to the country after Columbus
time. The Phenicians observed the rite.
The Lext paper read, was prepared by G.
E. Emery of Lynn, Mass. 1t was accompa-
MED by photograph Of an Indian idol. which
was found near Boscowen, n. III.
The third paper was prepared By DR.. Mt.
True, and treated of the radical aub in the
Algonquin language, which the Dr.. concludes
means eye, or circle Of light.
The fourth paper was a communication from
Mr.. Williamson Of Belfast. Transmitting a
book published in 1880. Joseph p. Msrstop,
oirrospect, revolutionary soldier. who died
al the age Of 81 years, was the author. The
oook IS iailof interest as personal narrative
ofthe sufierings, dangers, iortitude and patri-
otism Of the fathers of The Republic.
The hith paper read, was a remonstranee
TO Thou.as Pownell, Esq, Governor of Massa-
ehusetts, against the petition of Sylvester
Gardiner and Others, who wanted the Kenne-
bee purchase Sc. OFF as a separate county and
Pownelboroueh as the shire town. The re-
monstrants urged various reasons against the
petitioner, among which was that there were
no public house and parties might perish in
going to court. 1t also argues against the
claims of the petitioners to the land.
The sixth paper was made up of series of
notices OF the Powell family and extracts
from manuscripts given to Eliza S. Quincy in
1S4S by the nephew of Powell and copied ior
the Maine Historical Society. There is an
interesting account of a journey to Boston in
| ITO.
The seventh paper presented was the rough
draft of Josiah Quincy's speech against the
separation of Maine and Massachusetts.
Mr.. Benson of Brunswick gave an account
of the origin of Article of the Constitution
of Maine, relative to education. He shows
that it was written by Thomas Jefferson.
President Brown read paper upon the
early block-houses and garrisons. He men,
toned number of these and of the heroic
delences made by the settlers against The
French and Indians. A man accused OF
witchcraft was seized in one of these and sent
| to Massachusetts. This led to talk about
| witchcraft, and that it was never entertained
in Maine. A negro came to one of the SETTLE
ments and preached it, but met with so
strong opposition that he soon left.
Mr. RrahhIlpv
from Judge Weston relative to George Evans
Judge Weston says that when he was made
Judge he bad crier to appoint, and that
Daniel Evans, the father of George Evans
asked for the appointment that he might be
able to send George to college. Mr.. Brad.
bury hoped that some member of the society
might be appointed to write a biographical
| sketch.
@The next paper presented was PREPARED bv
Judge Williamson, on Religious Denomina-
tions in Maine at the close of the Revolution.
Another paper was from DR.. True on the
use OF copper by the Indians, in which he
took ground that it came from European
traffic.
paper on the early settlement of the Pc
nobscot ridiculed the idea of ancient Norom-
oega, and cast doubts upon many statements
relative to the settlement. 1t states that No
romDega means still stretch in river be-
tween falls, and that Norridgewock means
much the same.
The Society met in the Representatives
Hall in the evening.
"A paper was read giving some account of
the attack of the "rebels" upon Castine in
l779, taken from some papers left in the hands
OF the heirs of VIM. Readhead, (?) native
OF England, who had settled in that locality
and Joined the British forces. These papers
show that Sir John Moore began his services
at Castine.
Ihe next paper read was the report of the
Secretary of the Committee appointed to ex
anime the oyster shell beds at Pemaquid and
Damariscotta. The paper gave the extent OF
these beds and their formation, It must have
been great bivalve country, and the inhab-
ltants must have given themselves up to the
work OF consuming this delectabe shell-fsh
Mingled with the oyster SHELLS were the bones
OF birds, beasts, and even human beings
Tho also- found abundant rcnain, of roa,-
proving that the shell deposies were made bv
men. All the remains and the offal 90 to
prove large population over an extended
period of time, accustomed to culinary art
which indicates race of European tastes
and habits. On the skeletons, too, were
found copper helmets. Whence came this
class? The author claims that every record
and tradition points to the Mortimer. Mr.
Bradbury suggested that the country was long
occupied by Indians, and that the strata of
oil OF which there are three, Indicate centu.
les when, from some cause, the assemblies at
hese oyster deposits were omitted. Mr.. Bal.
ard suggested that all the Indians along the
coast were under one confederation, that in
The oyster-eating season they assembled here
rom hundreds of miles and e. joyed pro.
lracted feast. Mr.. Sewall spoke Of the posi-
oliity, it not probability, OF this race that
iwelt here being mingling of the Northmen
and Indians; certainly there existed strong
grounds for the presumption.
Mr.. Sewall of Bath then read an extended
paper, respecting the settlements Of Pemaquid.
de fnds the remains Of streets, forts, tanner
es and other manufactures. He is of the |
opinion that there was an extensive trade |
md settlement here, of which there is no |
ecord except that left by the remains.
A letter was read from President Harris re-
pecting the clam she'll heaps at Oak Bay,
lear st. Andrews, N. B.
Altogether the meeting was highly interest
pg. There were many papers that were not
cad for want of time.