protection, have made his name loved and respected in many lands, shortly after wrote:

"I have read with interest the various newspaper tributes to Mr. Mason, but they do not, they cannot, tell the story. I have lost many noble and true friends, but no one who has left such an aching sense of great personal loss. I could not find words to tell you half that he has done to cheer and comfort and bless me in my careworn life. He was one of the purest and best men I ever knew. Intensely human in his pity for human sorrow and in his brotherly hand stretched out to help the weary, but free from those foibles and weaknesses which so belittle human character, he reminded me of our Lord's words, 'Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.' Truly in him the hoary head was a crown of glory, for it was always found in the way of righteousness."

Mr. Mason became a member of this Society in January, 1869, but he had learned to feel an interest in it from a much earlier period, his father, during his residence in New Hampshire, having been a Corresponding Member, and his brother, Dr. Charles Mason, a Resident Member. He was himself a frequent attendant at our meetings, rendered valuable service on the Building Committee, and more than once entertained the Society at his house.

Of his six children, three daughters survived him, one of whom is married and has issue.

FEBRUARY MEETING, 1881.

The regular monthly meeting of the Society was held Thursday, the 10th instant, the President, the Hon. ROBE C. WINTHROP, in the chair.

In the absence of the Recording Secretary, the Re EDWARD G. PORTER was chosen Secretary pro tem. T record of the previous meeting was read and approved.

The Librarian, Dr. GREEN, read the list of gifts to t Library made since the last meeting.

The Cabinet-keeper, Dr. OLIVER, reported numero donations, among which may be mentioned a view of $ Botolph's Church, Boston, England; an engraved portrait the late Richard Frothingham; and a heliotype copy of a pair ing by N. Emmons (1728) of Andrew Oliver, Secretary the Province. He also called the attention of the Society a large copper-plate engraving (dedicated to Lieutenant-Go ernor Phipps) of the three college buildings standing at Ca bridge in the first half of the last century, speaking follows:

Among the larger engravings belonging to the Society Cabinet is a view of the three buildings of Harvard Colle standing in the first half of the last century. This engra ing, probably published late in 1739, or early in 1740, appea by the record to have been presented to the Society by Col nel William Scollay in 1795. It represents the three colleg buildings, Harvard, Stoughton, and Massachusetts, and dedicated by W. Price to Spencer Phipps, at that time Lieute ant-Governor of the province. Near the centre of the squa enclosed by the three buildings appears a large elm-tree, an in the street in the foreground is the chariot of the governo with two officers on horseback in the act of saluting him a they pass. The students in the quadrangle are represente as wearing the academic gown. This engraving measures by 18 inches in size, and in the right upper corner contain the following legend or inscription:

2

"Harvard Colledge at Cambridge in N England so called by ord of the Gen! Court of y Colony of the Mass Bay in honour to y name of the Rd Mr John Harvard a Generous Benefactor to it, its a Corporation consists of a President, five fellow[es] a Treasurer, with

whom is entrusted all ye Government of it, the care of Educating the Students there, the Exer[cise] of Discipline, the Admission & Expulsion of y° Members of it &c. But a General Inspection of it is committed to a body of Men called Overseers who are ye Governour Deputy and all the Magistrates for the time being together with y teaching Elders of Cambridge, Charlestown, Watertown, Boston Dorchester Roxbury and the President of the Colledge. It was founded by a Charter of y° above s nature Anno 1650. which continued till y Reign of James the second when it was vacated with the Charter of the Province, since which it hath but poorly subsisted on two other Charters, afterwards vacated, and at length after the year 1708, the first Charter was returned. This Colledge was at first raised by Publick donations, & private Gratuities amongst which none exceeds y of the late Honble Wm Stoughton Esq' about the year 1699. Since that the Province hath been at ye Expence of Additional Buildings to the Colledge, and of a Presidents House, hath from the Beginning given the President his salary, and may Continue & augment their Benefactions to it by whatever Taxes ye General Court pleases. The numb of Graduates from the first Commencem: Anno 1642. to ye Anno 1739. is 1386.

"N° 1. built 1675. N° 2. built 1699. N° 3. built 1720."

The above engraving was upon panel, and had become so discolored by time that portions of it were almost undistinguishable, and the panel had also become much warped and cracked. In order to its reparation, it was taken from the panel and transferred to paper, and protected by frame and glass. On lifting it from the panel another engraving embracing the same view revealed itself, over which it had been laid, similar in character, but published at an earlier date. It is dedicated to Lieutenant-Governor Dummer, who went out of office in 1730, by William Burgis, and, as appears by the "Boston News Letter" of July 14, 1726, was first published on that day.* No allusion is made to Burgis in the advertisement; but this is without doubt the print referred

to.†

Although the later engraving was published fourteen years after Burgis's print, the two are so nearly alike in character and outline as to leave no doubt that they are from one and the same plate, that of Price having received such.

*This day published "A Prospect of the Colledges in Cambridge in New England, curiously engraved in Copper; and are to be sold at Mr Price's, print seller, over against the Town House, Mr Randall, Jappaner in Ann Street, by Mr Stedman in Cambridge and the Booksellers of Boston."- Boston News Letter, July 14, 1726.

The accompanying heliotype is taken from this engraving. The line through its centre represents a crack in the panel.