The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-16
WILL PUBLISH
old MANUSCRIPTS
THOSE OF JAMES HABERSHAM
WILL BE PUBLISHED BY THE
GEORGIA HIsTORICAL SOCIETY.

Action Decided Upon at Second An
nuaI Meeting Last Night-30O Cop
les Will BE Issued-RepOrt of Pres
ident Mercer COmpIimented city
Upon Its Generosity Toward the
Free Public Library-Summary OF
Work Done During Last Year.
CuratOrs Elected for Year.
A Board of Curators was elected at
the second annual meeting, under the
new constitution, of the Georgia His
torical Society last night. The reports
of the officers were received.
At the meeting were President
George A. Mercer. DR.. r. J.
Num-. Col. ]. H. Estill, and
Messrs. Otis Ashmore, j. r. Saussy,
]. F. Minis, H. C. Cunningham, John
Nisbet. Edward Karow. B. II. Levy,
G. J. Baldwin, H. S. Colding, Will
liam Harden, U. H. McLaws. and
T. p. Ravenel. Immediately after the
society had been called to order by
President Mercer, the minutes of the
last annual meeting were read and
approved.
The designations of the following
members were read and accepted:
w. d. Krenson, r. NJ. Butter, W. w.
Osborne, Henry Blum, F. d. Bloodworth,
W. G. Charlton and T. H. Gignilliat.
The corresponding secretary. Mr..
Otis Ashmore, read a communication
from Mr.. Thomas M. Owen, director
of the Department of Archives of His
tory of the state of Alabama regard
ing publication by his department of
the Journal of Col. Benjamin Haw-
kins, 1796-1797. The papers are at
present in the possession of the Geor-
gia Historical Society. The matter
was referred to the committee on
Printing and Publication with power
to act.
A letter was also read from the con-
gressional Librarian asking the So
ciety to dispose of the duplicate files
of the Georgia Gazette. The secre-
terry was instructed to notify the Ii
brarian that there is but one file of the
Gazette in the society's possession.
President MERGERS Report.
President Mercer submitted his an
nual report. He called attention to the
condition in which the society is at the
present time and emphasized the fact
that it's existence for at least four years
is assured by the pledges Of prominent
men.
The Public Library was discussed at
length and attention was called TO the
number of books. the rapid increase
in the number of readers, and the
character of the books on the shelves.
The city was praised for its action in
the matter and the great work it had
toward King The free library
possible.
The work done at the Telfair Art
Academy was also briefly summarized
Reference was made to the illness of
Director Brandt and the delay which
it has caused in the completion of
his art panel. Announcement was made
that Mr.. Brandts health is improving
and that his early recovery is hoped for.
The treasurer's report showed that
at the date of the reorganization of the
society there was a debt of $1,244.20.
This necessitated a loan of $1,000, for
which the note of the society was Civ
en-. The current debts have now been
paid in full leaving a cash balance of
S20S.S5. The note of the society for
$1,000 is still running.
VIII Print Habersham Letters.
Mr. Ashmore, chairman of the
Committee on Printing and Publica-
ton, reported for that committee. The
report showed that during the holidays
two eminent scholars, Supt Lawton B.
Evans of Augusta and Prof. Joseph T.
Derry of Atlanta, had visited Savan-
nah, and carefully examined the manu-
scripts now in the possession of the
society.
These two gentlemen believed that
in point of relative Importance and
historical interest, the letters of James
Habersham deserved first consideration
for publication. In accordance with
the opinion of these two scholars the
committee recommended that the let
tiers be published. The recommended
ton was adopted by the society.
The letters contain 270 pages, suffi-
Gent to make a volume of $50 pages
of the same size as former publica-
tons of the society. There will be 300
copies, in three different styles of bind
ing, published. Sufficient copies in
handsome bindings will be prepared to