Morning journal and courier., 1888-11-27
THE HIsroRIoAL soO1Erx.

Annual Meeting and Election ef 0fl
 esrs-The Past Year,s Reports-Dfary ofthe sWPercarge, Joel RoOt-An old New Haven Ohtl1en-AnecdOfes. The New Haven Colony Historical society held it's annual meeting last evening at the society rooms in the old State House. A good attendance was had in spite of the disagree able weather.
 The first business was the reading of the years reports. The report of the secretary, Thomas R. Trowbridge, was accepted and ordered on file. The treasurer's report, writ ten by the late treasurer, Robert Peck, short- ly before his death, showed total expense for the past year of s1, ,50S 30. The receipts were $s38.S 80 and balance of account amount ed to $670, making a total of $1 ,50a.S0.
 President Simeon E. Baldwin then read brief synopsis of the important historical events Of the year. He said that the year opened with an Emperor William upon the German throne and also ended with an Elm peror William upon the throne, but between the two emperors came the short reign of Frederick. Bismarck, the great organizer of the German empire is still alive. His death would have been more than that of any emperor. Denmark presented striking reproduction of the England that our fore- fathers left. There is contention and disa- greemsnt between the two houses of legisla- ton, and the king supports the government by forced loans and impositions of royal de- crees, which are precisely similar to the ship money of Charles I. The next national step may be republic. The Netherlands adopt ed during the past year 8 new and and freer constitution on December 1, larged. The voting population has been increased from 130, ,000 to $50, ,00e, yet there are 800, ,0o0 men of age who would vote under oar system of suffrage. Russia has pushed 8 railway into the heart of Asia. It was great engineering triumph. It reaches faom St. Petersburg into the wilds of Asia. The>new road built during the past year ex- tends from the Caspian sea for 1 ,0o0 miles. In February last Sir Henry Sumner Meigs, one of the most distinguished honorary mem bers of our society. died. He was one of the rare scholars who wrote so that men who citation. Two officers of the society had also passed away during the year. They were Dr. W. H. Lefingwell and Robert Peck, Esq. MT. Peck had suc- ceeded his father, the late Nathan Peck, in the position of treasurer and never ceased to feel warn interest in the society's work. The president then reviewed the course of the city government respecting the State House question and closed with stating that the State House was the main post and citadel of the free public library, and this should always remain on the Green in the heart of the city. President Baldwin's sYnop- sis was voted to be placed on file.
 A gift by the Rev. Dr. Ravens of East Haven was then announced. It was manu- script history of East Haven. It was accept ed and a vote of thanks rendered to the donor.
 The election of officers for the ensuing year was held. The officers of the past year were all unanimously reelected. They are:
 President-Simeon E. Bald win.
 Vice President-Ex-GovernorE EnRlish.
 Treasurer-C. g. Leete
 Ex Governor English and Hon. c. B. Bowers and Judge Harrison were appointed a committee to nominate board of directors. The ex-officio members chosen were Presi- dent Timothy Dwight of Yale, Mayor Samuel A. York and the town clerk.
 Extracts from the diary of the superoargo of the sealing ship Huron were then read by Secretary Thomas R. T1owbrldge. The diary was presented to the society by the Hon. Will liam Woodruff of Albany, NY. It was writ ten in 1850 by Joel Root, who was promi nent citizen of New Haven during the early part of the century. He left Yale college in March of his junior year and accepted the position of supercargo on the sealing ship ship, which was about to make e trip almost around the globe. The diary is close nar- ration of the voyage and gives @ vivid and interesting account of the hairbreadth es- ospes, harships, wonderful sights and dis coveries which were part of it.
 After the reading ex-Governor English re- lated many anecdotes of the author after he settled in New Haven after his sea adven- lures. He became agent of the New Haven Steamboat company when it was first estab- lished and had his office in Custom House Square. New Haven was then decidedly marine city, its principal people following the sea as a profession. In 1911 it contained eighty shipmasters.