Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-12-15
The TTIstorIcaI NecIetY.


ANNUAL MEETING AND ADDRESS BY JUDGE
ooMEaYs- TRENTON AND PRINCETON To BE
COMMEMORATIVE.
The rooms of the Historical Society were
well filled, last evening, with highly intel
Igent and appreciative audience, to hear
the literary exercises usual to the annual
meeting.
Before the reading of Judge Comegys'
address, the chief feature of the evening,
Ex-Chancellor Bates, President of the So
ciety, announced the following standing
committees for the ensuing year
Library-Dr. R. johnson, Elwood Gar
rett, Rev. W. j. Frost.
Pubhcations-JosephR r. Walter Rev. f.
Israel, W. s. McOaulley.
Biography-H L. u. Wales, Rev. T. g.
Littell. G. A. Rodney,
Donations-Dr. L. P. Bush, ]. P. Wales,
Thomas s. Bellah
Fiuance-Elwood Garrett s. A. Macallis-
ter, DIR. A. II. Grimshaw.
The reading of the annual record of i'm
portant events by Judge Wales was post
poned, and Chief Justice Oomegys, being in
troduced, read his paper on the early histo-
ry of this State. By way of explanation, he
stated that the paper was one which he had
prepared and read about two years ago be-
fore the Historical Society of z Pennsylvania,
the subject being one of equal Importance
to Pennsylvania and Delaware.
The Judge then proceeded, reading some.
what rapidly, and occupying nearly an hour
and half. 1t ia quite impossible, of
course, to give synopsis of the paper, as
its chief value necessarily consisted in the
addition of new details to historical mat
ters that are already within reach. He re-
ferred, first, to the settlements of 1880, at
the mouth of what is now Lewistown creek,
by Cape Henlopen, and then to the settle
ment here by the Swedes and Firms, in
1888, when they landed at "the Rocks and
built Fort Ohristiana. Referring to Cover
nor Stuyvesant's great expedition from
New Amsterdam (New York, and his cap
ture Of the Swedish forts here and at New
Castle to the subsequent surrender by the
Dutch to Sir Robert Carr and the authority
of England, and still later the grant by
James ii. to the Duke of York, and the lat
ter's transfer to Penn, the paper draws
much interesting material from original
sources to illuminate the whole subject.
He dwelt somewhat elaborately on the
claims of Lord Baltimore, which caused
the long boundary dispute between Mary
land on one side, and Pennsylvania and
Delaware on the other, finally settled by
the running Of Mason & Dixon's famous
Cline"
At the close of the reading, the judge
was greeted with applause. His paper, as
we understand, will be published in the
historical collections of the Pennsylvania
Society, and will be valuable addition tC
them.
Dr.. H. p Bush, being called upon for 8
report of donations to the Society during
the past year, first proposed vote oi
thanks to Chief Justice Comegys, which
was heartily given, after which list of the
donations were read.
Amongst the donations was very hand
some portrait of Admiral Dupont, made by
the artist barley, and presented by the
widow of the Admiral. The other donations
have been principally reported from time
to time as the Society held its meetings.
DIR. Bush then announced that Judge
Houston was preparing an address on the
political history Of the Revolution, the time
for the delivery of which would be an
nounced hereafter, and that on Tuesday
evening, January End, Cesar A. Rodney, Esq
would read a paper on the battles of Tren
ton and Princeton, that being the anniver-
sary day succeeding the battle of Trenton
and preceding that of Princeton.
Mr.. Walter rendered to the Society do
nation of about 80 volumes of catalogues
of the different nations which took part il
the Centennial Exposition, that of England
being accompanied with the autograph oil
the Duke of Richmond.
The Society, then, at the suggestion o.
Mr.. Walter, agreed to meet next Tuesday
evening, the 10Th instant, to consider the
propriety and expedlency OF getting anoth-
place for the headquarters Of the Society
Mr.. Walter remarking that they had board
ed long enough and now wanted to go t.
housekeeping.
The Society then adjourned, the mem
bers and invited guests repairing to the La
dies Bazaar, where they partook of thei
annual supper.