President-W. H. Brown, Esq. Vice-Presidents-W. L. Newberry, Esq., Hon. W. B. Og- Mr. Tinkham submitted his annual report as den. Treasurer-E. I. Tinkham, Esq. Record-Treasurer; Prof. H. Bannister, of the University ing Secretary and Librarian-William Barry. at Evanston, was elected a corresponding mcmAssistant Librarian-Col. S. Stone. Corres- ber; and the meeting was then adjourned. ponding Secretary-E. B McCagg, Esq.

liam Wallace, jr., Jno. B. Egerton, Francis B. Mayer.

George R. Cinnamond, D'Arcy Paul, and Samuel Church, nominated at the last meeting, were elected active members.

The committee of conference with the Trustees of the Peabody Institute, stated that they would report at the next meeting, on the plan of organization proposed for the consideration and approval of the Society.

Rev. Dr. Dalrymple, for the publishing committee, reported progress in obtaining subscriptions to the proposed volume of the Society's transactions.

On motion of Mr. Brantz Mayer, the Society voted to subscribe one hundred and fifty dollars toward the expense of publication.

Adjourned.

On Thursday evening, Nov. 3rd, the chair, in the absence of the President, was taken by Rev. Dr. Morris.

Donations for the Library were announced as having been made by Hon. J. A. Pearce, Rev. Caleb D. Bradlee, Conn. Historical Society, Dr. Lewis H. Steiner.

Rev. Dr. Francis L. Hawks, of New York, was elected an honorary member.

Benjamin Moran, Esq., of London, and Prof. James Hall, of Albany, N. Y., were elected corresponding members.

Charles M. Dougherty, S. N. Carvalho, and Langdon Irving were elected active members.

Mr. Charles F. Mayer, from the conference committee, reported that they had met, and discussed the plan of organization of the Peabody Institute, but were not prepared to report.

Mr. Brantz Mayer offered a series of resolutions upon the death of Dr. Burnap, which were ordered to be recorded and sent to the family.

MASSACHUSETTS.

NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC-GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY.-The regular monthly meeting of this Society was held Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 7, at their room, No. 13 Bromfield street, the President, Almon D. Hodges, Esq., in the chair.

The Librarian, Mr. Trask, reported that 11 bound volumes, and 803 pamphlets, had been added to the library during the last month.

Dr. Palmer, the Historiographer, read a well written biographical memoir of the late Washington Irving, who was an honorary member of the Society.

Records at the national expense. The report was accepted, and the committee discharged, a vote of thanks being passed for the manner in which they had performed the duty intrusted to them.

Rev. F. W. Holland, of Neponset, read an extremely interesting paper, being sketches of the ancient history of Dorchester, interspersed with numerous amusing anecdotes, related in the quaint and humorous style for which the reader is so greatly distinguished. On motion of Mr. Kidder, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Holland for his valuable paper, and a copy was requested.

Dr. C. F. Winslow, of West Newton, then read a valuable paper on the Sandwich Islands, giving sketches of the Islands, the habits and customs of the inhabitants from personal observations during a residence of several years there. It was a learned, well-written and interesting narrative, and was listened to with marked attention. On motion of Mr. Dean, a vote of thanks was passed to Dr. Winslow, for his valuable paper, and a copy was requested.

Col. Samuel Swett, of Boston, read some extracts from communications of Hon. James Gregory, of Marblehead, relative to that town, and to American privateering.

After the transaction of the usual business, the meeting was dissolved.

NEW YORK.

NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.-(Officers, vol. iii., p. 43). Dec. 6th.-Monthly meeting. President in the chair. The resignation of the Treasurer, Mr. Chauncey, was reported, in consequence of an intended residence in Europe. Remarks were made by Mr. Folsom and Mr. Benedict, complimentary to Mr. C., who has served the Society with signal ability and fidelity. Mr. B. H. Field was appointed Treasurer pro tem., or until the will of the Society's hall be expressed at the approaching election.

The Hon. Hamilton Fish was elected an honorary member.

The paper of the evening was read by the Rev. Dr. Fischell on "The History of the Jews in America." He traced the fortunes of a band of his countrymen from Spain, whence they were banished, about the time of the discovery of America, to Brazil, thence to the West Indies, and thence to New Amsterdam, where they were received with coldness under the administration of Peter Hon. Lorenzo Sabine, in behalf of the commit-Stuyvesant, and again compelled to depart. He tee on the Virginia Records, reported that said committee had forwarded petitions to both houses of Congress for the publication of these

spoke handsomely of the condition of the Jews at Newport, and in conclusion read the letter (apparently from the original) of General Wash

ington, in reply to an address from that body. At the conclusion, Mr. Bancroft asked Dr. F. the question whether Rhode Island was not the first State in the world to grant perfect religious freedom and toleration to the Jews. Dr. F. seemed inclined to think that Holland had equal claims, and drew a distinction between the statute book of Rhode Island and the toleration of the people. Mr. Bancroft replied that the people were the State, and reasserted his claim for Rhode Island. Dr. Fischell's paper was well prepared, and of unusual interest.

The President then announced the decease of Washington Irving. The further proceedings of the Society, the speeches and the addresses delivered on the occasion, will be found at length issued from this office, in a separate volume, uniform with the Historical Magazine, entitled "Irvingiana."

AMERICAN ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY.-(Officers, vol. iii. p. 81).-This Society held their regular November meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 4th, at the residence of Charles F. Loosey, Esq., Austrian consul-general, George Folsom, Esq., President, being in the chair.

Donations were received of parts of the Scriptures in the Mpongwe language (W. Africa), from Rev. Mr. Walker, the translator; and the Modern American Bible, from Dr. E. H. Davis, translated by American missionaries. Both these works have been recently published by the American Bible Society, the latter under the supervision of Mr. H. Andonian and another American scholar in this city. A royal 8vo. edition of the same, with notes, is nearly completed, under their supervision.

Geo. P. Delaplaine, Esq., writes from Madison, Wis., that he shall resume the opening of the mounds near that city next season, and will communicate the results.

A letter from E. Whittlesey, Esq., of Cleveland, gave a description and drawings of a small copper instrument, of a singular form, probably used by Indians in scraping the bark of trees.

feet round. Bones and pottery are found in them. There is a defensive work, inclosing two acres, with a wall and ditch. Near Elm Creek is a circular fortification 1000 feet round, and another has a fine spring in the centre. At Randolph is a series of works; one 1000 feet in circumference, with four gateways. The stumps of old trees, 2 feet thick, stand on the embankment. Many other works are described or mentioned in the interesting letters of Mr. Cheeney, particulars of which may be published hereafter. He has pursued his researches with commendable zeal. His letters were referred to Dr. Davis to report upon them.

Votes of thanks were passed by the Society to the gentlemen who had forwarded the preceding communications.

Specimen of Indian Song Writing.-Dr. E. H. Davis, who was detained from the meeting, and therefore again compelled to defer his paper on recent discoveries in the West, sent the following letter, which was read:

"The Rev. Mr. Walker has placed in my hands an interesting Indian relic, which he obtained during a recent visit to Wisconsin-a genuine Meda' or Medicine Song.'

"The only history he could gather concerning it, was that it once belonged to a Pottawatomie Indian, from whom it was taken some twenty years since, but that he could give no account of it.

"It consists of 280 primary characters, and 270 notches or secondary, making 550 in all. It was undoubtedly the horn-book for the guidance of some mighty chieftain, wily Nimrod, or Esculapian_conjuror.”

I send, for your inspection, a terra-cotta image, perhaps one of the Penates of the mound builders, as it was found (according to the subjoined account) in one of the most celebrated groups of earth-works in Ohio.

In point of features (especially the angle of the eye) it is more analogous to the Asiatic types than anything I have seen, found in this country. The tunic, and posture of the figure also, favor the same impression.

Letters from T. A. Cheeney, Esq., of Cherry Creek, gave a map, descriptions and measure- The Recording Secretary read a history of ments of numerous works of various forms, sizes the invention of a syllabic alphabet, invented and characters in that region, which, according by a native of the Vei country, in West Africa, to the aged Indian chief called Seneca White, is (above Cape Palmas,) about 20 years ago, which said by tradition to have been on the battle- is used by many of his people in writing their grounds between the Five Nations and the language. The facts laid before the Society were Southern and Western tribes, in their old wars. derived chiefly from a book by Dr. Coelle. The One of these works has a wall of earth, inclos- inventor, named Doalu, received his first ideas ing three fourths of an acre, where many skulls of his alphabet in a dream, in which a venerable have been found, one with a bullet in it. Some white man appeared to him, and drew characters appear to be the skulls of white men. One of on the ground, giving a syllabie sound to each. several mounds on the high banks of Cattaraugus Doalu afterward opened a school, at the request Creek, is 15 feet high, and another 16, and 136 | of his king, and taught many persons, of all de

scene.

"Bethel," a humble chapel situated down in the valley, at a short distance from Mr. Deuil's residence. The pulpit was adorned with autumnal flowers, and gave a festive character to the In addition to this, the trombonists, from without, played a well known and beautiful chotale on their instruments, which was followed by the reading of the Moravian Litany, and an appropriate anthem. The time-honored Psalm of "Old Hundred," and a benediction, crowned the unique and interesting service, which was witnessed by a large and respectful assemblage of people.

Dec. 26, 1742, died March 20, 1744." On the west side may be read the original German inscription of Büttner's grave, and on the east, the following translation of it: "Here lies the body of Gottlob Büttner, who, according to the commandment of his crucified God and Saviour, brought the glad tidings to the heathen, that the blood of Jesus had made an atonement for their sins. As many as embraced this doctrine in faith, were baptized into the death of the Lord. His last prayer was that they might be preserved until the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was born Dec. 29, 1716, and fell asleep in the Lord, Feb. 23, 1745."

Along the eastern border of the "Indian Pond," in Sharon Township, Conn., the site of the Wechquadnach burial-place had been disco

The inauguration itself commenced on the following day. The various parties who assisted in the sacred transaction met at the house of Mr. Hunting, and placing themselves in the following order, proceeded to the site of the She-vered. komeko monuments: First came the trombonists; then the clergy officiating on the occasion; the Moravian Historical Society, represented by several of its members; the Shekomeko Literary Association; a large number of people on foot; and, finally, a train of carriages. At the scene of action not less than one thousand people had assembled, who stood fixed with wonder at the singular spectacle before them.

Some long forgotten event, of more than one hundred years ago, was suddenly brought to light; tradition had nearly lost its clue; the generations who might have transmitted the tale of Büttner, Bruce and Powel, how they labored, and where they fell, had long since become extinct, and their successors, too, had passed away. The living spectator was examining a newly opened page of his local history, and he found a fine little episode of old Moravian life, in which its heroism stands out in full relief, presented to his view. The services were similar to those in practice at the Moravian burial; the trombones sent forth the pure harmony of the Chorale; then Rev. Mr. Davis addressed the multitude in words both impressive and eloquent. The Burial Litany was next read, followed by another address of a historical bearing; then the hymn "Amen thou Sovereign God of Love" was sung to the tune of Old Hundred by the united voices of all present, and a chorale by the trombonists concluded the solemnity. The obelisk erected to the memory of Büttner consists of a shaft of Italian marble, four feet five inches in height, standing on a pedestal of the same material, eleven inches high. It bears on its north and south sides the following inscriptions: "Shekomeko Mission, commenced Aug. 16, 1740, by Christian Henry Rauch; Erected by the Moravian Historical Society, Oct. 5, 1859. In memory of the Mohican Indians, Lazara, baptized Dec. 1, 1742, died Dec. 5, 1742; and Daniel, baptized

Here another monument was raised to the memory of Bruce and Powell, the south side of which is inscribed with the words: "David Bruce, a minister of the Gospel in the Church of the United Brethren, from Edinburgh, Scotland. Died, July 9, 1749, at the Wechquadnach Mission, Dutchess Co., N. Y." On the north side we read, "Joseph Powell, a minister of the Gospel in the Church of the United Brethren, born 1710, near White Church, Shropshire, England. Died, Sept. 23, 1774, at Sichem, in the Oblong, Dutchess Co., N. Y." On the west side, "Erected by the Moravian Historical Society, Oct. 6, 1859;" and on the east side, "How beautiful upon the mountains, are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation. Isaiah 52. 7."

On the day following the solemnities of Shekomeko, a concourse of about 1700 persons had assembled at this locality, and the funeral services of preceding day were repeated. The appearance of a few surviving Sharon Indians served to render the picture still more marked; and as the dusky group gazed upon a transaction which their own traditions could interpret, the trombones sent forth their sombre tones, and caught the attention of the vast multitude.

This remarkable scene along the "Gnadensee," or Sea of Grace, was the conclusion of the monumental inauguration. For further particulars in regard to this novel event, I refer my readers to the forthcoming volume of Prof. Reichel, which will be illustrated by five engravings of the monuments and surrounding scenery.

J. H.

THE WOMEN OF CHESTER COUNTY, PA."Philadelpha, August 27.-Since the departure of the able-bodied men from the forks of Bran