H.DL.. SOC. 120.5.2

PRESS OF CHAS. HAMILTON,

WORCESTER,

MASS.

NOTE.

The Fourth Volume of the New Series of Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, herewith presented, includes the proceedings of four regular meetings, from October, 1885, to April, 1887, inclusive. The stated meetings of the Council, held during the same time, have fortunately been occupied only with routine matters and with shaping the business of the meetings of the Society. The reports of the Council contain, in addition to memorial notices of deceased members, essays by the gentlemen charged with their preparation, upon subjects of general interest. The Rev. Dr. Peabody treats, in his charming manner, of the Fallacies of History. Mr. Samuel S. Green shows that both Pilgrims and Puritans supported their ministers by voluntary contributions; and this, too, largely from principle rather than from convenience merely. Dr. Charles Deane refutes some broad charges which have at various times been brought against Massachusetts in the matter of the slave-trade. And in a discussion of the Great Charitable Trusts of Great Britain, Mr. Charles A. Chase brings out some facts about the origin as well as the financial condition of the universities, the great schools, the hospitals and certain other trusts. In the autumn of 1885 "Lechford's Note-book" was published as Vol. VII. of the "Transactions." The history of this work, and the manner in which it came into the Society's hands, are described by the Rev. Dr. Hale on page 6, et seq. of the current volume.

Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Edward H. Thompson (U. S. Consul at Merida, Yucatan), J. Evarts Greene, and Prof. Franklin B. Dexter furnish elaborate papers, and Prof. Frederick W. Putnam and Andrew McF. Davis make interesting communications. At the April, 1887, meeting, President Hoar laid before the Society three manuscript letters of Earl Percy, and read from Watterston's Gallery of American Portraits a discriminating sketch of one of our former Presidents, the Hon. John Davis.

The reports of the Treasurer, besides setting forth the income of the invested funds, furnish a list of the investments with their par and market values, and also the condition of the various funds as affected by the income and expenditure. The resources of the Society have been increased by the generous addition, by Stephen Salisbury, Esq., of the sum of $5,000 to the building fund established and maintained by his honored father; and the Rev. Robert C. Waterston,

unable to attend one of the meetings, sent as his substitute the sum
of one hundred dollars for the addition of any books to any depart-
ment of the library."

The maintenance and enlargement of the Library is the special
work of the Society, and the reports of the Librarian will show the
success which has been attained, through the thoughtfulness of friends
and with the limited means at our command.

The Index has been prepared by the Librarian and Mr. Reuben
Colton, his assistant.

THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.

WORCESTER, February 1, 1888.

ERRATA.

Page 140, line 10 from bottom, for 1776 read 1775.

Page 155, line 16 from bottom, for 1776 read 1775.

Page 196, line 10 of note, from bottom, for Niell read Neill.

Page 205, line 27, for Joseph Sewall read Judge Sewall.

Page 210, line 15 of note, for Judge Lowell read Judge Serall.

Page 256, line 5, for Hurlbert read Herbert.

Page 311, line 13, for Lamson read Lampson.

Page 319, note 1, for Gould read Goold.

Page 349, line 12, for Gookins read Gookin. Same line, for Weld read Welde.