The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-22

following new members were elected;
Mrs Eliza Lewis Potwin, OF Chicago,
H.: Henry ID. Spears. of New York city;
University OF West Virginia, of Morgan
town, w. Va: A. w. Sims. of Mt. Yer
non. Mo-. Colonel George Wayne Ander-
son. of Richmond; Robert T. Beverly.
OF Cloverport Ky; James s. Pirthe OF
Louisville. KY: Mrs William f. Spots
wood. of Petersburg. Va. Mrs. Lucy +.
Barnham. OF Renich. Mo; Professors
Mitchell and Carol, Of Richmond Col
lege
Professor Lyon G. Tyler reported on be-
half Of a special committee that the
Secretary of the Commonwealth and the
State Librarian had readily agreed to
publish hereafter the publication Of the
society at the expense OF the State.
COLONEL WILLIAM LAMB.
Mr. Gaines introduced Colonel William
Lamb. of Norfolk, who briefly addressed
the society. He introduced himself as the
president Of the Virginia Alpha of the
Phi Beta Kappa Society, of William and
Mary College He said he begged OF the
Virginia Historical Society for the re-
turn to his society their original records
or areana, now in their possession. lie
furnished an interesting sketch OF his
society that had recently been revived,
and from which the similar societies OF
Yale and Harvard had their origin.
on motion Of Mr.. G. Y. Meredith il
was decided 10 turn over the records
with the provision. however. that II
the society should again go out Of eN-
istence that the valuable documents
might return to the Virginia Historical
Society.
DIR. PALMER'S ILLNESS.
Mr.. Roosevelt Page offered the follow
ing. which was adopted.
LII or f..fx hos no ri
unfeigned sorrow of the illness of its
distinguished member, Dr. William F.
Palmer: therefore, be II
Resolved. That this society hereby
tenders TO him it's sympathy in his sick
ness, with the sincere wish that he may
soon be restored TO health and 10 the
councils of this society, in which he
has so long been valuable and con-
spicuous member
Professor Lyon G. Tyler was then in
troduced. who read highly interesting
paper upon Some Leading Features OF
Colonial Life I'm Virginia" This essay
was full of wit and highly entertained
the audience
At the close of Professor Tyler's re-
marks Mr.. Philip A. Bruce was intro
duced. who read an interesting paper on
"Virginia's Attitude in the Seventeenth
Century Towards the Importaucn OF
Convicts"
SECRETARY BRUCE'S PAPER.
Mr.. Bruce took up first the assertion
of many hostile to Virginia that an i'm
portant proportion of the population Of
this State to-day is i'm a certain sense
descendant from transported felons lie
dealt briefly with this contention 90 far
as il touched the population of Virginia
in the seventeenth century. the formative
period in the history OF the community.
and entirely refuted the assertion re-
ferred to.
He said that after 100 the importation
of slaves for agricultural purposes in
creased so much that the negro became
the principal factor in the cultivation Of
the ground. The importation of white
mechanics in the eighteenth century was
touched upon. Said Mr.. Bruce in this
connections:
While every record goes to show the
colonization of Virginia was expected to
furnish to the unemployed and dependent
poor q England a field where they could
be able TO secure not only a livelihood,
but, as even as Christopher Garlic eX-
pressed il. Honor and distinction, there
is no evidence to prove that il was ex-
pected in the popular opinion to be in
any sense penal settlement TO which
criminals might be removed"
Mr. Bruce here referred TO a number
of records TO bear out this statement
The systems Of labor in colonial days.
the economic conditions and other fea-
lures of the colony were briefly spoken
of. and the character of the classes of
emigrants 10 Virginia in the seventeenth
century was given with such praise
worthy comment as would be appropriate
10 the ancestors TO a great and noble
people.