Hector St. John de Crevecoeur, a French gentleman, long resident in this country, who made himself known by several literary works. He was the author of "Letters from an American Farmer," published in Philadelphia in 1794, and of a work in three volumes printed in Paris in 1801, entitled "Voyage dans la haute Pennsylvanie par un membre adoptif de la Nation Oneida." The story of his children, as given in the little book, is a very touching and romantic one; and they seem to have owed their preservation to Mr. Gustavus Fellowes, of a wellknown family of Boston or the vicinity, by whose granddaughter the book was written. M. de Crevecoeur was born in Caen, Normandy, in 1731, and emigrated to America in 1754. He returned finally to France (after having been Consul at New York in 1783), and died there in 1813. Among the Bowdoin papers, in my possession, I have found four of his letters to Governor Bowdoin, which are not without interest, and which I submit to the consideration of our Publishing Committee.

CAEN, LOWER NORMANDY, 1" July, 1786.

I hope your excellency has Received the Books I sent by Mr Barret, who was to sail from Lorient the latter end of February. I flatter myself they will be useful. I embrace the favourable opportunity of the bearer hereof Mr. Philip Déjean, a Gentleman much esteemed by the Good Marquis de la Fayette, to recall me to your excellency's remembrance, & to beg for him your Kind Protection & Countenance. We had Sollicited for him the Agency of Georgia, from whence we had conceived hope our Gouv! wou'd draw a considerable quantity of life Oak; but the Influence of the Northern contractors from Russia & Sweden have oversat all our schemes. He has resided in Canada 32 years, 18 of which he has spent at De'troit. He proposes to live some Time in your Town.

Will your Excellency be pleased to remember the differ! Seeds of artificial Grasses I sent you some Time before I left New York. I hope they have fructified, that their use is now better known. They most certainly are of y° Greatest Importance in Husbandry. I have desired M Déjean to examine those fields here which are covered with them, that after having been an ocular Witness of the vast quantities of Fodder they bring forth, he may more particularly explain it to your Excellency. I have desired him to deliver you a small quantity of the same Seeds, that in case of any accident these useful Tryals may be renew'd. Next fall I will send you a more compleat assortment & a Greater quantity, many not being Ripe. I beg your Excellency Wou'd receive them as a Token of my Earnest desire of Introducing that Important Branch of Rural Improvement into the State of Massachusetts.

I refer your Excellency to the Imperfect Instructions I have Printed in the New York Gazette, a copy of which I sent together

The following letter was received by the Recording Secretary, describing an interesting picture called the "Tea-tax Tempest," sent from Cincinnati for exhibition at the meeting:

MY DEAR MR. DEANE, -I telegraph to you to-night: "Have sent you engraving, Tea-tax Tempest,' by Adams Express, care Historical Society."

The engraving represents Time as throwing light on a screen where is shown the explosion of a tea-pot, which throws a serpent towards the British on one side, and a liberty pole and cap towards the Americans on the other. The scene is looked upon by four figures typifying Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. The engraving was made in 1778 by Charles G. Guttenberg. The plate is 17 by 13 inches. Underneath it are the arms of Holland, 1560, and of Switzerland, 1296, with the title, "The Tea-tax Tempest, or the Anglo-American Revolution," in English, German, and French.

The copy that I send to you formerly belonged to Mr. James Le Boutillier of Cincinnati. He bought it in Europe some time ago, and once showed it at the British Museum, when a description of it, as an entirely unknown relic, was taken in writing. Its present owner, Mr. Robert Clarke, permits the engraving to be forwarded to Boston, in view of the approaching Centennial Anniversary of the famous Boston Tea Party; and I have undertaken to promise that you will see to the return of the picture to Cincinnati.

It may be that your Historical Society knows all about the engraving, or even has a copy of it; but I have thought it worth while to forward the engraving for the chance that it may prove interesting at your approaching celebration.*

I remain yours very truly,

JULIUS DExter.

The following extract from a letter written by Mrs. Hannah Winthrop of Cambridge, wife of Professor John Winthrop, LL.D., to Mrs. Mercy Warren of Plymouth, wife of General James Warren, dated Jan. 1, 1774, was read by Professor Henry W. Torrey :

"Yonder, the destruction of the detestable weed, made so by cruel exaction, engages our attention. The virtuous and noble resolution of America's sons in defiance of threatened desolation and misery from arbitrary Despots demands our highest regard. May they yet be endowed with all that firmness necessary to carry them through all their

This picture was subsequently presented to the Society by Mr. Clarke. Two other copies, belonging to members of this Society, were brought to the meeting on this occasion. - EDS.

difficulties till they come off conquerors. I was sorry to see the Protest from Plymouth. If we could see their connections and expectations affixed to their names, it would let us into the prime movement of their narrow hearts, and it would be no great task to trace the original influences. We hope to see a good account of the Tea cast away on the Cape. The Union of the Colonies, the firm and sedate resolution of the People, is an omen for good unto us. And be it known unto Britain, even American daughters are Politicians and Patriots, and will aid the good work with their female efforts."

The meeting was now dissolved.

NOTE.

Several articles of historical interest were exhibited at the meeting, some of which were alluded to in the addresses of the evening. The following list may be worthy of record:

Curious pieces of Silver belonging to the family of Josiah Quincy; namely, the "Flint Vase," presented to Tutor Flint by his pupils in Harvard College, inscribed:

"DONUM PUPILLORUM.

HENRICO FLINT.
1718."

He was generally called "Father Flint." His sister married Judge Edmund Quincy, and two rooms in the old mansion were called "Father Flint's

rooms.

"

A tea-pot, about the same date, bearing the arms of the Bromfield family. Belonged to the grandmother-on the maternal side of Mrs. Abigail Phillips Quincy, wife of Josiah Quincy, Jr. Cream-pitcher, bearing the Quincy arms (seven mascles), with a crest, assumed by Josiah Quincy, Jr., -a law book, supporting a liberty-cap. Date, 1770. Two ancient punch-ladles, history unknown; one belonging to Edmund Quincy. Porringer, given by Benjamin Franklin to his confidential clerk, Josiah Flagg, as a token of esteem, marked "P.M." The inscription states that it originally belonged to Peter, and Mary Folger, the grand-parents of Benjamin Franklin, and is about one hundred and sixty years old. It now belongs to Miss Annie Flagg Wales, to whom it descended in the maternal line from the Flagg family.

F

Punch-bowl (porcelain), owned by Josiah Quincy, Jr.

Dress sword, belonging to Josiah Quincy, Jr., 1775; worn by him in London.

Daguerreotype, from a portrait of Henry Purkitt, the last of the survivors of the Tea-party, who died March 3, 1846, aged ninety-one, - belonging to Miss

Prentiss.

Valuable Papers.

Original Journal, kept by John Adams in 1773, with entry, under date of December 17, of the destruction of the tea; owned by Charles Francis Adams. Letter of Josiah Quincy, Jr., to his wife, London, Dec. 14, 1774,-containing a report of his speech on the December previous, beginning, "It is not the spirit which vapors within these walls."

Original draft of the "Observations on the Boston Port Bill," 1774; with a corrected proof of same in his handwriting: Josialı Quincy, Jr.

Original MS. of the Instructions to the Representatives of the Town of Boston, in the handwriting of Josiah Quincy, Jr., May 15, 1770, at the age of twentysix years.

Autographs of Washington, S. Adams, Franklin, &c., - belonging to the collection of Mr. Waterston.

Bound volume of Law Reports, belonging to Edward Rutledge, Esq.; first sixtyfour pages in the handwriting of Josiah Quincy, Jr.

In the same Volume,

A petition of the Assembly in New York to His Majesty. Copied by a clerk. Fifty pages.

Copious selections from the "Beauties of Shakespeare," copied by Josiah Quincy, Jr., 1762.

Printed.

Printed Questions, discussed by Students at Harvard College taking their degree. 1766. Josiah Quincy, Jr., one of the students.

Printed Volume.

Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England. Oxford, 1768. This volume was saved from the destruction by fire which befell the library of Josiah Quincy, Jr., by being lent at the time to one of the Phillips family.

JANUARY MEETING, 1874.

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

The Recording Secretary read the record of the last stated meeting and that of the special meeting.

The Librarian read the list of donors to the Library for the past month.

The Recording Secretary reported a gift to the Cabinet by Mr. Robert Clarke, of Cincinnati, of the picture of "The TeaTax Tempest," the same that was sent on for exhibition at the mecting at Mr. Waterston's, 16th December. The thanks of the Society were ordered for the gift.

The Librarian specially announced that the Pickering Papers, which had been placed in the hands of Mr. Upham for the purpose of completing the Memoir of Timothy Pickering, had now been placed in the Library, in accordance with the letter of Mr. Henry Pickering published in the Proceedings of the Society for December, 1869, p. 162. The MSS. comprise

68 vols.

A renewed expression of the thanks of the Society was voted to Mr. Henry Pickering for this valuable donation.

The Librarian reported that he had, agreeably to a vote of the Society at the November meeting, placed in the archives of the State the small bundle of papers found in the Cabinet.

He further reported that he had, in accordance with the vote at the last stated meeting, placed in the hands of the AttorneyGeneral of the State the three volumes of "Hutchinson Papers," accompanied by a letter to that officer, prepared by the committee, and now communicated by him to the meeting. He had also taken a receipt for the volumes.

Hon. CHARLES R. TRAIN,

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
BOSTON, Dec. 22, 1873.

Attorney-General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

SIR, I am directed by a Committee, acting under a vote of the Massachusetts Historical Society passed December 11, to transfer to the Archives of the Commonwealth three volumes from the Library of the Society, containing documents lettered "Hutchinson Papers," which the Society had caused to be bound, and which it has had in charge for more than fifty years; and I would respectfully ask a receipt for the same.