The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-19

| looking up the history of the new state. lie
was sorry that its archives bore no more record
Of his own labors, but he pleaded the constant
labor required of him in other directions. He
closed by eongratulatory remarks,
Mr.. Sewalls paper then came up for discus
sion. Mr.. G. f. Talbot commended that there
was no evidence of settlement at Pemaquid
other than for fishing and gathering furs, and
that the fishermen did not remain through the
winter. These remarks reopened the old Ply
mouth and Pemaquid discussion. Elk Cover
nor Washburn replied to Mr.. Talbot with great
force. Ex-President Woods said that the Ply
mouth settlers sent the Mayfower back immedl-
ately for authority from Sir Ferdinando Gorges
to occupy the land at Plymouth land that the de
scendants of John Pierce remained about Penn
aqud for one hundred years. He called atten-
ton to the fact that Maine was the debatable
ground between Catholic france and Protestant
England, and that consequently the extirpation
| of the colony was not to be wondered at. hon.
George T. Davis dwelt upon the lasting results
| of the Plymouth colonization, and the evanes-
| cent nature of the Pemaquid settlement. Mr.,
| A. G. Tenney said that she Society made no
| special claim in behalf of Maine, and only as
| serted that Pemaquid was the first of series of
| steps in the march of colonization. Maine left
the blarney-stone to Massachusetts. Mr. Gill
man ad1uced some of the strongest evidences
| in favor Of Pemaqud and asserted that be-
cause of these early settlements, Maine became
| an English instead of French province. The
president closed the discussion by few we'll
| chosen words in which he acknowledged the
claims of both Plymouth and Pemaquid. Mr.
.l.olE ofH Nv
| free passage to members of the society, on the
International line of steamers, to st. John and
RETURN The excursion is to take place next
summer, and opportunity will be afforded to
visit places of interest along the coast. The
invitation was accepted with thanks, and the
Society adjourned for dinner at the Falmouth
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session opened with the read
ing of an able, appreciative and noble sketch OF
George Evans, his life and his life work, by
Robert Hallowell Gardiner. We regret that
its length forbds its' reproduction in these COL
umns. for no abstract can do justice to its mat
ter and manner. Its reading called forth reml-
nisciences of Mr.. Evans from Ex-Governor
Washburn, Mr.. Benson, the president, MIR. j.
T. McCobb and others. Mr.. Talbot moved
vote Of thanks to Mr.. Gardiner.
Hon. George T. Davis read an entertaining
and gosspy paper on an alleged portrait OF
Sir William Phipps, which is now hanging in
certain room in Boston. Mr. Davis pursued
course of exhaustive criticism, and succeeded in
establishing the authenticity of the portrait to
the reasonable satisfaction of his hearers. A
hasty sketch of it, made by Mr.. FL. B. Brown,
was presented. A brief account OF Sir Will
liam's life was given by Mr.. Davis. The sub
iect gave birth to many curious reflections, and
was enlivened by polite allusion and anecdoti-
cal and historical "reminiscences. Indeed, every
event of Sir Williams life suggested to the
speaker host of collateral matter, always en-
PERTAINING, often valuable. He was not confined
to his manuscript but frequently wandered OH
into devious and pleasant paths, adoralng
whatever he touched, and deghting his audi
ence by the wealth of his fancy and the beauty
and aptness of his illustrations. His remarks,
taken in connection with the paper, were
strongly suggestive. of those gem-encrusted
jewel-caskets, richer even than the jewels which
they contain. The article and its exposition
may be likened to those curious Chinese eggs,
which when Clipped exhibit miniature cage.
One opens the cage and finds bird; one dis
sects the bird and discovers jewel; and so on,
each discovery leading to another. Some spec
ulatens of interest were INDUCED in relative to
the value of oral tradition, and to the extent to
which belief in relics is assisted by the imagi-
nation These remarks were in effect an in
genious plea for relic worship considered on its
esthetical side.
Mr.. G. J. Varney read paper Of much re-
search, relative to the Indian inscriptions on
the rocks at East Machias The reading called
forth remarks from Messrs. Teuney and Talbot.
A paper from Judge Godfrey Of Bangor, on
Jean Vincent, Baron de st. Castine, and one
from Thomas G. Amory of Boston, being vim
dication of Gen. Sullivan from the aspersions
made on his character in regard to his negotia-
tions with the French, in the tenth volume of
Bancrofts history, were read by title.
A letter was read from the Rev. Henry Z.
Storer of Scarborough. making inquiries IN re-
gard to the Scotch-Irish immigration
At this point the Trelawney papers were
brought up again, and Gen. Brown suggested
that Sir Josiah Pierce, who is now in London,
might visit Lady Trelawney. Gen. Brown was
authorized to open correspondence with Sir
Josiah and with Mr.. Thornton
O. r.
impression. Judge Ether Shepley is not the
only living corporator, though the only one liv-
ing in the State There is another, the Hon.
Peleg Sprague who is now living in Massachu-
sets. Of him Judge ShepleY spoke in the
highest terms and closed by offering the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved, That the Maine Historical Society,
now in session, sends its most respectful greet
ing to the Hon. Peleg Sprague, one of the dis
tinguished founders, and one OF the two sur
viying corpora tors Of the Society.
The resolution was adopted, and it was voted
to telegraph it at once to Mr.. Sprague at Bos-
ton.
Mr.. Gilman, from the committee on publica
ton, reported that it would cost $1675 to pub
lish thousand copies of the seventh volume of
documentary papers.
On motion of Mr.. Gardiner, the committee
was directed to proceed with the publication,
and to sell copies at not less than two dollars
each.
Gen.. Brown suggested publication fund
like that of the Pennsylvania society. The
standing committee was directed to report a
plan for such fund.
Mr.. Gilman moved vote of thanks to the
members resident in the city for the cordially
of their welcome and for the generous hospi:
tality extended. The vote was passed and re-
sponscs made by Messrs. Davis and Hayes.
Adjourned.
HAYDN AssoCIATIoN.-The annual meeting
of the Haydn Association was held last even
ing at Union Hall, President J. B. Coyle, Jr.,
in the chair,
The Secretary reported the whole number to
be 49, Number of new members admitted II.
Number of rehearsals 81. Number of concerts