of Greaton, Bond, and Porter would extend their terms of service two weeks," was sufficient to inspire Washington with faith that he "would drive the enemy from the whole Province of New Jersey ;" and yet, that two weeks of service would count as a re-enlistment, and, for the time being, add to the reputed strength of the Continental Army.

"An approximate estimate of the relative contributions of States to the military force that gained our independence," is Mr. Winsor's solution of General Knox's Report and of similar tables, based upon that report, by the States themselves. The author of the "Battles of the Revolution " supposed that he had exhausted inquiry, during thirty years of examination of the general subject-matter, and endeavored to call attention to excessive estimates of the force of the Continental Army in the general statement with which he closed his volume. The substitution of the word "period," or "term," for "years,' would have more accurately expressed his recognition of the difficulty in fixing the number of men who actually did service in the Revolutionary War.

MARCH MEETING, 1886.

The appointed meeting of the Society was held, as usual, on the 11th instant, the Rev. Dr. ELLIS being in the chair.

The Secretary's account of the proceedings at the last meeting was read.

The Librarian's report of gifts to the Library during the past month was presented.

The Corresponding Secretary announced that Mr. Samuel F. McCleary had accepted his election as a Resident Member of the Society.

The PRESIDENT referred to the death of the Hon. Horatio Seymour, of New York, who was an Honorary Member; and of Mr. Henry Stevens, of London, who was a Corresponding Member. He then proceeded as follows:

While we are gathered at this hour at our regular monthly meeting, there is another company of his friends and clerical brethren attending the funeral rites of our late esteemed associate, the Rev. Nicholas Hoppin, D.D., for many years the Rector of Christ Church, Cambridge. The Society would express their respect for his character, and their appreciation of the historical taste and industry given to the themes which engaged his interest. Dr. F. E. Oliver is charged with the office of writing the memoir of Dr. Hoppin for the Proceedings.

In view of the approaching Annual Meeting, a Committee of Nomination was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Greenough, Hill, and Saltonstall; and a Committee on the Treasurer's Accounts, consisting of Messrs. Bangs and E. J. Lowell.

Mr. Horatio Hale, of Clinton, Ontario, was elected a Corresponding Member of the Society.

The PRESIDENT, in behalf of the committee appointed to report upon the manuscripts given by Mr. Francis Parkman, then said: —

These manuscripts, the larger portion of which are substantially bound, as well as the few collections of papers which are

and military officers, her traders and adventurers filling the woods with their wild roamings, and the relations of her colonists with the native tribes either of assimilation with them or in exterminating wars- might have claimed from fortune quite another allotment of destiny in the New World. Failing of that result, history can but keep faithfully the record of toil and achievement, though thwarted in the results. The Cabinet of this Historical Society has committed to it a great trust in the possession and care of such a mass of documents of prime authority and authenticity, the monuments of the zeal and vigor, the prowess and ambition, displayed by the subjects of France in opening the continent which policy and the fortunes of war assigned to the stock of England.

We have only to add that a committee of the Society, charged with making a detailed report upon the manuscripts in its keeping, will include in that report at some future day a synopsis of these manuscript collections.

Judge HOAR, of the committee to whom was referred the recent bequest of Mr. Sibley, made the following report:—

The Committee appointed to consider what action of the Society is appropriate, in view of the munificent bequest to the Society in the will of its late member, John Langdon Sibley, have attended to that duty, and report that they recommend the passage of the following resolutions:

1. The Massachusetts Historical Society desires to place on record its grateful acknowledgment of the interest in its prosperity and resources expressed by its late member, John Langdon Sibley, in the munificent bequest in his will; which, though not available for a considerable period of time, is clearly intended to be ultimately of far greater value and benefit to the Society than the gift of any previous benefactor.

2. That a copy of the foregoing vote be transmitted by the Recording Secretary to the widow of Mr. Sibley, accompanied by an expression of the sympathy of this Society with her bereavement, and an assurance of the respect and regard in which his memory is held by his associates in its membership. For the Committee,

MARCH 11, 1886.

E. R. HOAR, Chairman.

Mr. DEANE laid before the meeting several original papers which had recently been received by a lady in Cambridge from a relative in New Brunswick, Mr. Francis Edward Winslow, a descendant of Edward Winslow, Esq., a loyalist and refugee, who died in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1784, aged seventy.1 These papers are of about the period of the Revolution, and consist partly of letters from different members of the Winslow family, sometimes dated at Newport, and sometimes at New York, where the British then had possession. Several are from Pelham Winslow, a son of General John, and addressed to his cousin, Edward Winslow, Jr., who on one letter is called "Colonel Edward Winslow, commander of the Associated Loyalists, &c., Newport." Pelham and his cousin Edward had both enlisted under the British flag. The former, who is called "Major," died in Brooklyn, Long Island, in 1783, leaving a wife living in Plymouth, who after his death wrote a piteous letter to a loyalist friend in Nova Scotia, asking for a grant of land and rations from the British Government, for herself and two children in a destitute condition. Her maiden name was Joanna White. Two commissions, one appointing Edward Winslow a Register of Wills, &c., for Plymouth County, and one for Suffolk County, are noticed. One of the most interesting papers is headed "A List of the Refugees from the County of Plymouth," and gives the names of about ninety persons, more than three fourths of whom are set down as from Marshfield. These papers were courteously placed in Mr. Deane's hands by Miss Mary W. W. Gannett, of Cambridge, a relative of their former owner, for any purpose which he might wish to make of them, but the originals were to be returned. They were communicated by Mr. Deane for the use of the Society, and here follow:

Edward Winslow and Others to Captain Theophilus Cotton.
PLYMOUTH, February, 1760.

CAPTAIN THEOPHILUS COTTON,

Master of the Schooner "Four Friends."

SIR, These are to desire and impower you to go on board said schooner as master come to sail, and make the best of your way for the

1 This Edward was a brother of General John Winslow, who removed the Acadians in 1755, and who died in Hingham in 1774. See Sabine's Loyalists, vol. ii. pp. 439-444.

port of Cadiz. On your arrival there, value yourself on some gentlem of honor, integrity, and good substance. The Company of Hall and Gould have been recommended to us as a very good house. If, upon inquiry, you find them so, and are likely to transact your business with as much despatch and fidelity as any other person, would have you value yourself upon them; and we desire you to see that the produce of your cargo (after purchasing a load of salt and what else we have wrote for and paying the necessary charges of your schooner), be remitted to Messrs. Champion and Hagley, merchants in London, by good bills of exchange before your departure from the port of Cadiz, if you can, in proportion to our several interests, namely:

We desire you to purchase for us fifty boxes lemons; forty jars of oil; eight casks sherry; eight quarter-casks Spanish brandy; sixteen casks raisins; eight flails figs; twenty-four lbs. capers; eight dozen Barcelona handkerchiefs at 18/ sterling; eight dozen ditto at 25/; four dozen best ditto dark colors.

If you have opportunity to buy anything that you think will turn out to good advantage here, as duck or tea, &c. please to do it. If, on your arrival at Cadiz, you find that you can do better by going up the Straits, then proceed to what port you shall judge you can get the best market and be most for the benefit of your owners.

Col. Winslow to Benjamin Marston.

SIR,This is to inquire of your health and family's, and also to acquaint you of the indisposition that dear little Bennee hath been under. He was taken the last Friday; was weak at night, with a strong fever, which continued upon him till Monday, when we sent for Dr. Otis, who is the most experienced physician in our parts, who,

1 Edward Winslow, who signs this letter, was a brother of General John Winslow. He was a loyalist at the Revolution, and retired to Halifax, where he died in 1784, aged seventy. Some letters to his son Edward, also a loyalist, may be seen further on. Gideon White was a great-grandson of Peregrine White. He married Joanna Howland in 1743, and died March 3, 1769, aged sixty-two. A daughter, Joanna, married Pelham Winslow. A son, Gideon, born in Plymouth in 1752, a loyalist, removed to Nova Scotia, where he died in 1833. Sylvanus Bartlett was a descendant of Robert, who came in the "Anne " in 1623. Thomas Davis was the ancestor of the distinguished family of that name in Plymouth. See Sabine's Loyalists, vol. ii. pp. 418, 419, 439-446; Russell's Guide to Plymouth, etc., p. 248; 1 Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc., vol. xi. p. 94.