Columbia after the Revolution. From Columbia Mr. Leaming received the degree of D D.

Dr. Leaming was a forcible writer on various subjects connected with his ministerial office, but was especially a controversialist, upholding the authority, doctrine and form of worship of the Church of England. He was the first choice of the clergy of Connecticut to be their bishop after peace was declared, but declined on account of lameness, caused by being compelled to sleep on a stone floor without a bed at the time of his imprisonment.

His ever fast friend, Rev. Samuel Seabury, was chosen in his stead, and by his request, as the late Rev. Dr. Samuel Sea bury informed me.

As a good churchman, Dr. Leaming, in obedience to his ordination vows, upheld the authority of the king as head of the Church, and prayed for the king and the royal family in the church services, and suffered persecution therefor. But when the independence of the colonies was acknowledged by the mother country, he supported the new government, and composed the first prayer for Congress, sent in a letter to Bishop Seabury, which is now in my possession.

When Bishop Seabury returned from Scotland to Connecticut after his consecration, the clergy and laity assembled to welcome him, and Dr. Leaming, who presided, made the address. To the clergy he said: "I cannot forbear to mention (and I do it with pleasure) the conduct of the Civil Rulers of this State respecting our church; they have not only manifested a spirit of benevolence, but an exalted Christian charity, for

which our gratitude is due, and shall be paid in obeying all their just demands." And to the laity, he said: "The principal part of the religion we teach is love. For the soul which animates societies, civil or sacred, is the great and generous spirit of charity; that violates no compacts, that raises no commotions, that interrupts no good man's peace, that assaults no innocent man's person, that invades no man's property, that grinds no poor man's face, that envies no man, that supplants no man, that submits private convenience to public utility, and recommends those duties to your practice that will insure an infinite reward." Dr. Leaming was minister at Norwalk twenty-one years, afterward at Stratford many years, and when infirmities of age had disabled him he retired to New Haven and to a friend's house, where, blind and lame, he lived to the advanced age of eighty-seven, and died in 1804.

JAMES R. LEAMING, M. D. 18 West 38th St., New York City.

ELIZABETH CANNING [xix. 4381-In November, 1756, Elizabeth Canning married John Treat, of Wethersfield, Connecticut, a great-grandson of Richard Treat, who came to Wethersfield about 1637 from England. They had three sons, and one daughter who died unmarried. One of the sons was a Revolutionary soldier. Elizabeth Canning Treat died in June, 1773, according to a contemporary newspaper. Many of her descendants still live in Connecticut. A genealogy of the Treat family is in process of preparation. J. H. T. LAWRENCE, MASS.

OLD MR. VAN BERKEL AND HIS DAUGHTER [xix. 111]-A few years ago I learned some particulars respecting Mr. Berkel, the first ambassador from Holland to this country, from the late Mrs. Commodore Salter, of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Her father was Colonel Armstrong, a former merchant in New York, and, during the Revolution, an officer in the British army, having been a neighbor of Mr. Van Berkel when he lived in New York, as also of Mr. William Constable. [See xix. 104]-In 1796, Mr. Van Berkel removed to Newark, New Jersey, where he died Dec. 27, 1800. His credentials presented to our government declared. him to be "a gentleman of distinction, whose personal qualifications are in great repute among us, the Hon. Mr. Peter John Van Berkel, burgomaster of the city of Rotterdam, and a deputy in our Assembly." Although mentioned in Washington's Journal as "old Mr. Van Berkel," he was not older than Washington himself, and he was doubtless so called to distinguish him from his son, then in America, and, as understood from Mrs. Salter, was subsequently appointed governor-general of Batavia, East Indies. Van Berkel's daughter married Col. Christian Sennf. His name appears in Mr. Van Berkel's will, probated Jan. 1, 1801, who, with his wife, left this country shortly after that date for the West Indies. The wife of Mr. Van Berkel never came to this country, remaining in Rotterdam. Mrs. Salter had a good portrait of her. One of our United States ministers at the Hague, on his examination of the district archives, ascertained that Mr. Van Berkel had done us good service during the early stage of the Revolutionary war in negotiating a loan in Hol

WITH A KNIFE? [xvi. 500]-A writer in the Cleveland Leader has recently discussed the extraordinary manner in which Washington was abused while holding public office. He closes his remarks with the following paragraph, seemingly oblivious of the fact that there were no "White House" dinners to gossip about in Washington's time.

"Speaking of Washington, I see that some of the goody-good newspapers of the country are very indignant at the statement in Quackenbos' history that Washington at one time ate peas with a knife. I do not doubt but that the statement is true. The whole literary United States at the time of Washington. however, seemed to be a mutual admiration society, and there is little unfavorable gossip about the White House dinners. I found the other day, however, Maclay's diary, giving his experiences during his term as a Senator of the United States when Washington was first President. Maclay dined with Washington a number of times, and scattered through his diary are little bits of gossip about these dinners. At two of them he describes Washington as amusing himself during all the dinner by playing the devil's tattoo upon the table with his fork. He says, speaking of one of these dinners: The President kept a fork in his hand when the cloth was taken away, I thought for the purpose of picking nuts. He ate no nuts, but played with the fork, striking on the edge of the table with it." PHILADELPHIA, PA. H. H. W.

NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY-At a stated meeting of the society, held on the evening of the 5th of June, the president, Mr. King, occupied the chair. The paper of the evening, written by Mrs. Burton N. Harrison, entitled, “The Fairfaxes of America," was read by Professor Charles Carroll, M. D. Aside from the interest attaching to Mrs. Harrison's paper as a most picturesque account of a family historic both in England and America, the close intimacy of the Washingtons with the proprietors of Greenway Court was illustrated by extracts from their mutual correspondents and tradition which the authorherself a descendant of the Fairfaxes -had heard from intimate sources.

The Rev. Robert Collyer, in moving a vote of thanks, expressed the hope that the country of their adoption would continue to feel in the future as in the past the influence of the good and brave race. The president stated for the information of the society that $105,000 had been subscribed to the Building Fund, and urged the personal efforts of the members to secure before the next meeting in October the remaining $45,000 necessary to complete the amount required.

THE ONEIDA HISTORICAL SOCIETYThe regular meeting of this society was held May 28, at its rooms in Utica, New York. In the absence of the president, Hon. John F. Seymour, third vice-president, presided. Gen. C. W. Darling, corresponding secretary, read a list of valuable historical articles contributed by

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different persons and societies, and the thanks of the society were tendered the givers. Among the gifts was an oil painting in gilt frame 6x5, representing the landing of the Pilgrim fathers. This painting is a copy from Sargent's picture, formerly in the Boston Athenæum, and was presented by Mrs. John P. Gray of Utica. The committee in charge of the New Hartford centennial celebration (to occur in June next) reported that invitations were now being sent out. Gen. James Grant Wilson of New York, and Professor John Fiske of Cambridge, Massachusetts, were elected corresponding members. Rev. A. P. Brigham read a paper on the Geological History of Oneida County, the subject being treated in a masterly manner.

THE TENNESSEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

held its annual meeting May 15, 1888, in Nashville. Colonel J. George Harris was called to the chair by Judge Lea, and presided during the evening.

The Hon. Theodore Roosevelt of New York City was elected an honorary member.

Mrs. Martha J. Lamb, of New York City, editor of the Magazine of American History and author of the History of the City of New York, was elected an honorary member.

Many gifts were acknowledged and letters read. The following officers. were then elected for the ensuing year: Hon. John M. Lea, president; Hon. James D. Porter, Anson Nelson, Col. W. A. Henderson, vice-presidents; John M. Bass, recording secretary; General G.

P. Thruston, corresponding secretary; Joseph S. Carels, treasurer and librarian. Judge Lea, who had insisted upon giving up the office of president, an office he has filled for sixteen years, was overwhelmingly elected by a unanimous vote while trying to decline. The spontaneous outburst in his favor was too great to allow him to surrender the exalted position of the head of this important and widely known society, which is doing so much good for the state and the country.

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NORTH CAROLINA was reorganized at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the seat of the State University, Oct. 26, 1887. The following officers were elected for the current year: President, Kemp P. Battle, LL.D.; vice-president, A. W. Mangum, D.D.; honorary secretary, Prof. John F. Heitman; secretary and treasurer, Stephen B. Weeks; executive committee, K. P. Battle, A. W. Mangum, G. T. Winston, Stephen B. Weeks, Claudius Dockery.

The society has since held four meetings, and there seems to be a gradual awakening all over the state to the importance of historical study. The following is a partial list of the subjects discussed during the present session :

"The objection to the Federal Constitution in the North Carolina Convention of 1788," by President K. P. Battle; "The characters of John Dunn and Benjamin Boothe, the Tory lawyers of Rowan," by Prof. A. W. Mangum; "A sketch of dueling in North Carolina, and between North Carolinians," by Mr. Stephen B. Weeks; "A discussion of the characters of Governor Gabriel

Johnston and of his opponents," by Prof. G. T. Winston; "A criticism of the accepted historical opinions of Governor Johnston," by Mr. Claudius Dockery; "A Discussion of the conduct and Motives of the Regulators," by President Battle; "Capt. Wm. Moore's expedition against the Cherokees, with explanation of the route and localities," by Maj. J. W. Wilson. [The original report of Capt. Moore was contributed by Mrs. M. M. Chambers, of Morganton, from the papers of her ancestor, Col. Waightstill Avery.] "Humorous account of his election and experience as Major of the Battalion of Home Guards in 1864," by Major Wm. A. Smith; "History of the State of Franklin," by Prof. E. Alexander; "A history of the Young Men's Christian Association movement in North Carolina, 1857-1888," by Mr. Stephen B. Weeks.

The work of the society will now be done mainly by professors and students in the University. It is hoped the students thus trained will endeavor to foster the increasing interest in local history in North Carolina.

DEDHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY-The annual meeting of this society was held March 7, the President, Henry O. Hildreth, giving a brief sketch of its history since its organization in 1859. Officers were elected for the ensuing year as follows: Don Gleason Hill, president; Erastus Worthington, vice-president; Julius H. Tuttle, corresponding secretary; John L. Wakefield, recording secretary; Henry G. Guild, treasurer; John Burdakin, librarian.