retum," which word means simply a "salad." In it Virgil describes in most harmonious verse a Roman farmer coming home from his labors, and directing his servant, a negro woman, who is portrayed with exceeding vividness and truth, -to prepare his dinner. The servant goes to work, and Virgil gives us an admirable recipe for a salad. He enumerates all the ingredients she used, and tells us the order and the manner in which they were used. When all are in the dish,

"It manus in gyrum; paullatim singula vires

Deperdunt proprias; color est E PLURIBUS UNUS."

I may also mention here another of his gifts to literature. He found in a very rare work, of which he had picked up a copy, that the famous mediæval hymn, "Dies iræ, Dies illa," had been sadly shorn of its original proportions. It is known by the name which I give to it above, because it is always printed as beginning with the stanza of which these four words form the first line. In 1865 Mr. Folsom stated, at a meeting of this Society, that "this grim and terrific offspring of the piety of the Middle Ages had been shorn, in later times, of its first four stanzas, as appears from one of the earliest copies of it, inscribed on a marble tablet in the Church of St. Francis, at. Mantua. This inscription was printed in that rare and curious book, Variorum in Europa Itinerum Delicia,' by Nathan Chytræus, 1594."

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As these four lost stanzas appear to me as well worthy of preservation as those which form the hymn as it is commonly written, and as they have not, so far as I know, been printed since Chytræus put them in his book, which is now almost inaccessible, I give them below:

"Quæso anima fidelis,

Ah, quid respondere velis,
Christo venturo de cœlis,

Cum a te poscet rationem,
Ob boni omissionem,

Et mali commissionem?

Dies illa, Dies iræ,
Quam conemur prevenire,
Obviamque Deo ire

Seria contritione,
Gratiæ apprehensione,
Vitæ emendatione."

Since this memoir was reported to the Historical Society, the writer has found that Mr. Folsom's claims to the first discovery of this origin of our national motto are open to question. He mentioned it at a meeting of the Society in Sept. 1862. But the 3d vol. of the Historical Magazine, of New York, in August, 1859, contains a communication from Baltimore, signed B. M., quoting the line from Virgil, and referring the motto to it.

Mr. Folsom was chosen a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1827, and he was also a member of the American Antiquarian Society. He was a constant attendant at the meetings of both these societies, and often added to their interest and value from his stores of varied information. At the annual meeting of the latter, in 1859, at their Hall in Worcester, he read a very interesting Report of the council, which he had prepared as a member of that body. In this Report he displayed signal ability, alike in treating of the history, character, and purpose of the society, of the best way of enlarging the usefulness of its library, and of the peculiar duties of the librarian, a subject in which he was thoroughly versed, and in the discriminating sketches which he gave of members who had deceased within the year. These were Dr. Henry Bond of Philadelphia, Dr. Samuel Willard of Deerfield, and Alexander Humboldt.

In this last mentioned memoir, for it deserves that name, while touching upon the many remarkable points in the life and character of Humboldt, he dwells at some length upon his early travels in South America, his constant interest in this continent, and particularly his careful and thorough investigation into the character and the discoveries of Amerigo Vespucci; and the probability - not yet a certainty-that Vespucci did reach this continent before Columbus, while it is certain that they both died in the firm belief that they had arrived at the coast of Asia.

During many of his later years he had a project which partly his fastidiousness and partly his other engagements prevented his carrying into effect. He proposed to make a book, to be called "The Companion to the English Dictionary." The name tells its intended character. His purpose was to consider in it doubtful phrases, the construction of sentences, and the proper way of using words and forms of language of which only one way could be the best. Such a work as he could have written, had he been content with attainable excellence, would have been an invaluable assistant to every writer of English.

Let me now speak of him in reference to his moral characteristics. Here, as before, if I find a weakness, it is a virtue carried to excess. He was, if such a thing be possible, too disinterested. Always ready to leave any occupation of his own or interrupt any leisure, if a friend or a stranger offered him an opportunity of being useful, he seemed to think and to care for every one but himself. I knew him well for haif a century. I believe it may be truly said that no one ever had

a sweeter temper or a more gentle and generous disposition; for this was scarcely possible. Always putting the best construction upon every thing, and throwing the light of his own kindness over every person, he was almost unable to take offence, and wholly incapable of retaining resentment.

He was a member of the Social Club to which reference is made in the Memoirs of Jared Sparks, William H. Prescott, and Charles G. Loring. Formed in 1818, with accessions within one or two years thereafter, it numbered twenty-five; and it still continues, with but four of its members living. During this long period, he was, while his health permitted, a constant attendant. Among so many young men, growing from youth to age, with an intimacy which cast off all reserve, occasional collisions were inevitable. But from Folsom no one ever heard a word or saw a look or sign of offence or unkind feeling, however momentary.

His life had its share of vicissitudes and disappointments. But through them all he was always the same. In all his relations, as husband, father, friend, his kindness was warm, constant, and unselfish. No one ever knew him refuse a favor which it was in his power to grant; or think first of himself, when the question was whether he should benefit himself or another.

In the fulness of years he has passed away. But he will live in the memory of those who knew him, not only as a cultivated and accomplished scholar, but as a thoroughly good

man.

MAY MEETING, 1873.

A stated meeting was held on Thursday, the 8th of May, at 11 o'clock A.M.; the President in the chair.

The Recording Secretary read the records of the preceding meeting.

The Librarian read his monthly list of donors to the Library. The Corresponding Secretary read a letter of acceptance, as a Corresponding Member of the Society, from Colonel Joseph L. Chester, of London.

The President read a letter from the executive authorities of the State of New Hampshire, requesting permission to take copies of several portraits of former Governors of that State in the Society's Cabinet.

Leave was granted for copies to be made, the portraits not to be removed from the Society's building.

The President spoke of the decease in New York, on the 6th instant, of John Romeyn Brodhead, Esq., a Corresponding Member. He was born on the 2d January, 1814, graduated at Rutgers College in 1831, was Secretary of Legation at the Hague in 1839, and while there was appointed by Governor Seward, in 1841, to procure copies of original documents in the archives of Holland, France, and England, to illustrate the History of New York. He spent three years in this labor. The papers were published by the State, under the editorship of Dr. O'Callaghan. From 1846 to 1849 Mr. Brodhead was Secretary of Legation to Mr. Bancroft, in London. On his return he began his "History of New York," the first volume of which was published in 1853, and a second in 1871. They were valuable additions to the history of our country, and the death of their author before the completion of the work is deeply lamented.

The President presented, in the name of Mrs. Joseph Coolidge, a miniature, by St. Memin, of Meriwether Lewis, for two years Private Secretary of President Jefferson, and the companion of Captain William Clarke in the memorable exploring expedition across the continent to the Pacific ocean.. Lewis was afterward Governor of Louisiana Territory. There is a Memoir of him by Mr. Jefferson, published in connection with the narrative of the exploring expedition, prepared by Nicholas Biddle and Paul Allen. He was born in Virginia in 1774, and died in 1809. The thanks of the Society were ordered for the gift

He also exhibited a picture in miniature of Governor James Bowdoin, believed to have been painted by Copley.

The President also called attention to an interleaved Almanac (Thomas's) for 1791, with notes by its former owner, Dr. John Eliot, an original member of this Society. Its present owner, Mr. John F. Eliot, had called the President's attention. to the following memorandums in it, which were read:

"Historical Society met at Col. Tudor's house Jan. 24, and chose their officers."

"Jan. 26. Mr. Lowell spoke an eulogium upon Mr. Bowdoin, President of the Am. Academy of Sciences."

"April 9. The Historical Society met at Mr. Sullivan's."

"June 30. A meeting of the Historical Society."

(December) "21st day. The Historical Society met at their room." "24. Evening at Judge Sullivan's."

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(Wednesday Evening Social Club," passim.)

Mr. WATERSTON said that Mr. Eliot, the present owner of this Almanac, had many others, interleaved and annotated in like manner, and that he once expressed to him an intention of finally depositing them in the Library of this Society.

Attention was called to a book, presented by J. S. Fay, Esq., entitled "Words and Places," &c., by Isaac Taylor, M.A., "London, 1873,"referred to by him in a letter read at the February meeting.

The President read a letter from Mr. Robert S. Rantoul, arbiter relative to the "Hutchinson Papers," saying he was ready to meet the Committee of the Society whenever it should be agreeable to them.

Dr. ELLIS, from the Committee on the "Hutchinson Papers," said that he would address a note to Mr. Rantoul, appointing a day to meet him at the Society's rooms.

The Hon. Benjamin R. Curtis was elected a Resident Mem

ber.

The President read a letter from our associate, Judge Endicott, communicating for the Society's Library the "brief" of a law case between Lynn and Nahant, which involved some interesting historical questions connected with our earliest Colonial Period, on which the courts had not before decided.

Our associate, the Hon Caleb Cushing, through Mr. Brooks, presented a manuscript volume, finely illustrated with engravings, of the genealogy of the Cotton Family, prepared for Mr. Cushing by the late H. G. Somerby, for which the thanks of the Society were ordered.