in strong contrast the great improvements of the present time over those of the last century in the way of international communication throughout the world. It would be practically impossible now for a man of such eminence in the domains of literature and science to be taken away in any part of the world without the fact being known at once wherever newspapers are published.

Dr. EVERETT presented a pamphlet containing his address. on the late Dr. Rufus Ellis; and a "History of the United States for Schools," by Alexander Johnston, Professor in Princeton College, which he highly commended.

The Hon. ROBERT C. WINTHROP then quoted a remark of Daniel Webster, that he never went on a journey without taking in his trunk Mrs. Emma Willard's "History of the United States," the marginal notes of which he considered very valuable.

Dr. CHANNING referred to a manuscript in the Society's possession labelled "Proceedings about the Lands at Narragansett, etc., April 2, 1672," given by Mr. Winthrop on March 14, 1871. It contains attested copies of all the important documents relating to the Atherton Company. Among them are two bearing date Oct. 13, 1660, which are printed below. Neither of these papers in itself is of much interest; but as forming important links in the history of one of the early colonial land speculations, they are of considerable value.

Whereas there is a writeing upon y° other leafe of this paper giuen by Suckquansh Ninegrat & Scuttup in behalfe of themselves & their associates wherein they have made over all these Lands to Maj1 Humphry Atherton & his Associates for ye paymt of six hundred fathom of peage Wth ye charges to ye Comisso's Also an ingagem; not to sell any land to any person or persons except Maj' Atherton & his associates as more amply appears by ye sa writeing: now if this Land do any wayes come in to y° hands of ye sd Maj' his Associates or assignes or their heires or assignes wee promise to ye sd Maj' & agree amongst o' selves not wth standing in regard yo Indians put a great deale of trust in ye sd Maj! & Expect kindness from him yt wee will not wth standing use the Indians wth all Curtesy & not take y° Land from them for five or six yeares & when wee shall have Accation to plant it yt not wth standing wee will suffer them to plant in ye Country & enjoy their priviledges of Royalties & from time to time allow them Competancy of planting

ground for them & their successors for ever dated this 13th Octob* 1660 In witness whereof wee have joyntly subscribed our hands,

HUMPHRY ATHERTON for himselfe & son
EDWARD HUTCHENSON for himself & son
RICHARD SMITH

THOMAS STANTON for himself & son

RICHARD SMITH Jun'
WILLIAM HUDSON

true Coppy of the originall

JOHN ALCOCK

AMOS RICHISON
JAMES SMITH

THOMAS WILLETT
JOHN BROWN
JOSIAS WINSLOW

Recorded in the 28 page of the old Court
Booke Hartford Sep 7. 1664

as attest JOHN ALLEN Secretary

attest NATHLL CODDINGTON assist

HARTFORD 13 of 8h m. 1660

WORSHIPFULL S-o' hoed Govern' p'senting unto y Consideration of y Gener" Court yo' desires respecting ye wampom to be p by ye narragansets to this Colony it seemed good to yo court after serious consideration about yo propositions to come to this determination wch I was ordered in y° name of yo court to certifie unto yo' selfe wth any other therein concerned yt according unto y ComisTM order this court Expects, y' ye sum of wampom imposed by ye honed comiss" & security given for ye paym thereof by ye narragansets shall be cordingly p'formed unto o' worshipfull Gover here at Conecticot as also 140 fatham for ye Charges of y° mesengers up on ye payment whereof ye agreemt wth ye Narragansets is to be surrendered & not otherwise & it is likewise Expected yt ye paymement be made in Currant & well stringed wampom not else but respects presented from

yo' loving friends & Confederats y

Gener Court at Connecticott in y name & by their order subscribed DANLL CLARK secr'y

a True Coppy of ye Originall compared as attest NATHLL CODDINGTON assis*

The collection also contains a list of the associates of Humphrey Atherton in this transaction. It corresponds exactly with that in the Records of the company, -the so-called "Fones Records," — which are in the custody of the Rhode

Island Secretary of State, and is here given as being more accurate than the list printed in the "Trumbull Papers."

The names of such as are associates and have Interest with Major Humpry Atherton in this writeing and have as full Interest in it as the said Major paying their proportions of what shall be paid to the Comissioners In Witness whereof the major hath put to his hand under this this writeing this 13th October 1660

Mr John Winthrop Gover" of Connecticott

Recorded in yo 28 page of yo old court booke of Hartford as attest JOHN ALLEN Secretary

Sept y° 7 1664

a true coppy of yo originall

compared by mee

NATHLL CODDINGTON assist

The within are a true coppys of y originalls attest NATHL CODDINGTON assist

Mr. DEANE said that if he had been aware of the existence in the Society's archives of the manuscript referred to by Mr. Channing, he should probably have made use of some portions of it when preparing the recent volume of " Trumbull Papers for the press. It was entitled "Proceedings about the Lands at Narragansett, etc.," and was presented by the late President, Mr. Winthrop, as appears by an indorsement on it, " March 14, 1871." It was not communicated at a meeting of the Society,

and for that reason found no place in the Proceedings. The paper is a transcript of several documents relating to the transactions of the Atherton Company for several years, and was probably drawn up or compiled early in the beginning of the last century. Mr. Deane thought it was desirable to print any portions of these documents not known to have been already printed elsewhere, as indicated by Mr. Channing. The Narragansett papers known as the "Fones Records," which have been sealed from public inspection for so many years in the Secretary's office in Rhode Island, contain, it is believed, but few papers of value not already published. (See Coll. R. I. Hist. Soc. vol. iii. Introd. p. xiv.)

DECEMBER MEETING, 1885.

The Society held its regular meeting on the 10th instant, the Rev. Dr. ELLIS, the President, in the chair.

The Secretary's report of the previous meeting was read. The Librarian's list of gifts to the Library was submitted; and among them were about a hundred volumes which had been received from the President.

Dr. ELLIS then said:

The death at Cambridge yesterday, after a completed life of fourscore years, of our associate John Langdon Sibley, Librarian Emeritus of Harvard College, has been long expected, and perhaps would have been earlier welcomed by himself and his friends as a release from protracted infirmities. His name has been upon our roll for thirty-nine years. He was one of those intelligent workers in the fields of historical and biographical studies, for whom such a Society as this exists, who use its stores and enrich its productions. He had all the special qualities which are most requisite and most fruitful in his and our appropriate pursuits, curiosity, interest, and sympathy with the subjects of his studies; extended, thorough, and patient research, carried into obscure and minute details; and a conscientious respect for accuracy. He was impartial, candid, and generous in his judgments. We have all of us identified him with the College. It might well be so, for it was his own appropriation of his life and service. He was one of those marked personalities, in aspect, garb, and bearing, which fit and grace a college or university, as certifying to its age, its historical and traditional type of character and of service. All ancient institutions of learning gather during the years such congruous personalities, in their officers and servants, like the famous Tutor Flynt, of the elder generations of Harvard, and the quaint Grecians, Popkin and Sophocles, of more recent times.

With the exception of a few of the early years of his manhood spent in the ministry, Mr. Sibley had through his long