beyond that I never inquired, except of Com. Barron who never believed that he behaved otherwise than bravely in the action referred to." And again on May 4, 1858, he says: "He commanded a gun boat at the first bombardment. There were six of these boats in two divisions of three each. They all ran in and engaged except Uncle J's boat, and after the affair was over his conduct was investigated by a Court of Inquiry, which acquitted him upon the ground that a signal of recall was made by the Constitution which he obeyed." Extended references to the Tripoli affair appear in others of the letters, and there are interesting statements regarding Decatur, Barron and the other naval officers, descriptions of the Naval Academy, and many important allusions to naval affairs. The letters contain numerous references to Worcester people and localities; the proposed artesian well, disgraceful condition of the burial ground; the old canal; youthful experiences of the writer in Worcester; his wish that Harrison G. O. Blake would continue Lincoln's History of Worcester, etc. The letters are well worth printing, although there is doubtless more of Commodore Blake's correspondence elsewhere preserved.

Three hitherto unlisted engravings by Paul Revere have come to light during the year and fortunately all three have found a resting-place in the collections of this Society. The first is an advertising hand-bill of 1771 obtained from W. F. Adams of Springfield. This was the business card of William Breck of Boston whose place of business was "at the Golden Key near the draw-Bridge." It is signed "P. Revere sculp," and like most of his engraved cards of this type measures six by eight inches to the margins of the paper. It is undated, but on the back is written a bill receipted with Breck's signature and dated October 7, 1771. Breck must have ordered another lot of the prints, for in Paul Revere's manuscript account-book is a charge of 18 shillings for 300 prints

entered against Mr. William Breck under date of September 29, 1772.

Another hand-bill was found by Robert H. Dodd of New York early in the year and was purchased for the Society. It is a Boston store-card and is headed "To be Sold by Joseph Webb at His Store near Olivers Dock Boston." It is signed "Paul Revere sculp," and is one of the most curious of all his engravings, chiefly because of the way in which the scroll-work border is hung with pots, kettles, skillets, flat irons, fire-dogs and other paraphernalia of the trade of an iron-monger. In Revere's account-book, under date of September 28, 1765, is a charge of £3 against Mr. Joseph Webb for "Engraving a Copper Plate for Advertisements," and of 7 shillings for printing 150 copies. Judging from his account-books, Revere must have engraved several of these advertising hand-bills for Boston merchants, yet only three have so far been discovered, the two noted above and a third-the card of William Jackson-obtained by the Society a few years ago.

The other Revere engraving, acquired from Robert Fridenberg of New York, is a Masonic certificate of the familiar Revere type, filled in for Rising States Lodge of Boston and admitting Samuel Welch to the second degree of Masonry, July 25, 1790. This form, which is on vellum, has the imprint "Printed & sold opposite Liberty Stump, Boston." Although without the imprint of Revere, it is unquestionably his work and is almost a replica of the signed certificate reproduced in Goss, "Life of Paul Revere," vol. 2, p. 477. It has especial interest since it is signed in autograph by Paul Revere as Master, and also has an endorsement in his handwriting as well as his signature.

A collection of early Worcester views, undoubtedly the best of those owned in Worcester, has been placed here on deposit by Mr. Alfred L. Aiken of this city. It contains the following prints and maps:

WORCESTER VIEWS.

VIEW OF WORCESTER, Mass., taken from Union HILL, 1831.
Lith. after Anderson. Large folio.

ADVERTISEMENT. EXCHANGE COFFEE HOUSE.

Coffee House at the top; inscription below.

Moore,

Picture of Exchange

GREAT FIRE IN SCHOOL ST., 1838. Bowes, Lith. after G. L. Brown.
VIEW OF WORCESTER, MASS., 1858, in tint. Endicott, N. Y., Lith.
VIEW OF WORCESTER, MASS. Duplicate of the above except in color.
STATE LUNATIC HOSPITAL, WORCESTER, MASS. Moore, Lith.
VIEW OF THE BLACKSTONE CANAL AND THOMAS ST., 1828.
Anderson & Co., So. Lancaster, Lith. after D. Weston.
AMERICAN TEMPERANCE HOUSE. Bufford & Co., Lith.

Carter,

TIMETABLE, BOSTON & MAINE RAILROAD. (Sheet), dated October 23, 1843.

SMALL WOOD-CUT, OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE.
VIEW OF MAIN ST., WORCESTER, Mass., 1836. Wood-cut from Barber.
VIEW OF THE HOSPITAL, WORCESTER, MASS. Small steel engraving.
VIEW OF LINCOLN SQUARE, WORCESTER, MASS. Small wood-cut from
Gleason's Pictorial.

VIEW OF MAIN ST., WORCESTER, MASS. Lith. from old sheet of music.
VIEW OF COURT HILL, WORCESTER, MASS., 1851. Pub. by Addison
Prentiss. Large Folio.

PICTURE OF WORCESTER GUARDS ON PARADE. Sheet of music, Prentiss, Lith.

BIRDSEYE VIEW OF WORCESTER, 1878, in tint. Pub. by Bailey & Hazen, Boston.

VIEW OF WORCESTER, MASS., FROM THE INSANE HOSPITAL, 1849, in tint. Buchanan & Co., N. Y. Lith. after Paul E. Whitefield. Large folio. VIEW OF WORCESTER HOUSE. By Lysander C. Clark, Worcester, Mass. CITY OF WORCESTER, MASS., 1864. Bufford, Lith. after Black & Matchel. Large folio.

VIEW OF MAIN ST., WORCESTER, IN 1836. Small wood-cut.

SKETCH OF GREAT FIRE IN SCHOOL ST., IN 1838. Small reproduction. LINCOLN HOUSE. Small wood-cut by Whittemore.

WORCESTER MAPS.

Map of the Village of Worcester, July, 1829. By Phelps. Pub. by Clarendon Harris. Carter, Andrews & Co., So. Lancaster, Lith. MAP OF WORCESTER SHIRETOWN OF THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER. By H. Stebbins; Pub. by Clarendon Harris, 1833.

PLAN OF THE TOWN OF WORCESTER, 1795. Copy by Francis E. Blake, January, 1883.

PLAN OF THE CENTRAL PARK OF THE CITY OF WORCESTER. By C. Valentine, Surveyor. Pub. by Henry J. Howland 1856.

MAP OF WORCESTER, Mass., FROM WALL'S "REMINISCENCEs of Wor

The collection of American book-plates has been much enriched by the activity and generous co-operation of Rev. Herbert E. Lombard. By writing numerous letters, and personally seeing collectors and owners of interesting plates, he has filled in many of the gaps in the collection which he placed here on deposit a year ago. This private collection he has now presented to the Society, as an unconditional gift. Including the plates secured for the Society during the past year, it now numbers 2,355 specimens. Although not so extensive as several collections in the country, it contains many choice plates, such as the earliest dated American book-plate, or label, that of William Brattle, 1677, which in itself would give prestige to any collection. The early American plates, including those by Revere, Hurd, and other eighteenth century engravers, are well represented, as was shown by the exhibit described in last year's Report. The modern plates make a good showing, with 259 varieties of the work of Spenceley and 312 of French. There is also a fair proportion of the work of the best of the living book-plate designers. There is still much to be obtained to round out the collection, especially in the period before 1830, but through Mr. Lombard's generosity, we have made more than a good beginning. It is especially desirable that this phase of the art of engraving should be represented in the collections of the Society, since here in Worcester is to be found perhaps the best collection of early American engraved prints existing in the country.

Respectfully submitted,

CLARENCE S. BRIGHAM,

Librarian.