i^^&H 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 •OF THE — 
 
 Salem Lyceu 
 
 OFFICERS AND LECTi 
 
 SINCE ITS FORMATION I 
 
 AND AN EXTRACT FBOM THE 
 
 ADDRESS" OF GEN. HENRY K.OL^^^ 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE OPENING OF THE 
 
 Fiftieth Annual Course of Lectures, 
 
 NOVEMBER latli, 1878. 
 
 SALEM : 
 
 PRESS OF THE SALEM GAZETTE. 
 
 1879. 
 
X 
 
 V 
 
so x^ 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 Salem Lyceum, 
 
 WITH A LIST OF THE 
 
 OFFICERS AND LECTURERS 
 
 SINCE ITS FORMATION IN 1830. 
 
 AND AN EXTRACT FKOM. THE 
 
 ADDRESS OF GEN. HEMY K. OLIVER, 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE OPENING OF THE 
 
 Fiftieth Annual Course of Lectures, 
 
 WOVJEMBJER lath, 1878. 
 
 SALEM : 
 
 PRESS OF THE SALEM GAZETTE. 
 1879. 
 

 By transfer 
 
 OCT 25 191: 
 
v# ^ *^ >:-> 
 
 ^"S&i- 
 
 SALEM LYG15UM. 
 
 The Salem Lyceum was formed in the month of Jan- 
 uary, 1830, and the first lecture was delivered on the 
 evening of February 24, of that year, in the Methodist 
 meeting-house in Sewall street, by Judge Daniel A. 
 White. Other similar institutions were organized at 
 about the same time in the principal towns and cities of 
 the country. Of these, the Salem Lyceum and the 
 Concord Lyceum, formed at the same time,- alone sur- 
 vive, the others having long since ceased to exist. 
 Daring these years, fifty successive courses of lectures 
 have been delivered to its members, covering a great 
 variety of topics, engaging the services of many very 
 distinguished persons, and contributing not a little to 
 the social education and entertainment of the public. 
 
 The Lyceum, as a specific institution, was an intellec- 
 tual development of the time of its birth, and, under 
 the name of Institute, flourished in I^ngland even be- 
 fore it was transplanted hither. The persons engaged 
 i\\ the formation of the Lyceum in Salem were the 
 principal gentlemen of the town. The first meeting 
 was held at the house of Col. Francis Peabody, (the 
 present residence of John H. Silsbee, Esq., No. 380 
 Essex street), on Jan. 4th, 1830. It was then, 
 
 ' ' Voted, That it is expedient to establish an institution 
 in Salem for the purpose of mutual instruction and ra- 
 tional entertainment", by means of lectures, debates, &c." 
 
 A meeting was subsequently held in the Town Hall, 
 
(Jan. 12), when a committee was appointed "to pre- 
 pare a constitution, and submit the same for inspection 
 to the citizens of Salem." 
 
 This committee prepared an address to the public, 
 and a form of constitution, which were left for signa- 
 tures at the Commercial News Room, the Reading Room 
 of the Charitable Mechanic Association, and at the 
 bookstores. 
 
 On the evening of January 18th, 1830, a meeting of 
 the signers of the constitution was held in the parlor of 
 the Essex House, then known as "Pickering Hall," and 
 frequently used for public purposes. At this meeting 
 and at an adjourned meeting, the following officers were 
 elected, and constituted the first Board of Directors : — 
 
 President — Daniel A. White. 
 
 Vice Pi^esident — Stephen C. Phillips. 
 
 Corresponding Secretary — Charles W. Upham. 
 
 Recording Secretary — Stephen P. Webb. 
 
 Treasurer — Francis Peabody. 
 
 Managers — Rev. William Williams, Caleb Foote, 
 Esq., Rev. Rufus Babcock, Hon. Leverett Salton- 
 stall, Col. Jonathan Webb, Dr. Abel. L. Peirson, 
 Dr. Malthus A. Ward, Dr. George Choate, Hon. Rufus 
 Choate, John Moriarty, Esq. 
 
 It was originally intended that public debates should 
 be among the exercises of the Lyceum, and the by-laws 
 provided for the appointment of disputants upon the 
 affirmative and negative sides of such questions as might 
 be discussed. But this plan was never carried out. A 
 course of lectures was, however, sttfrted forthwith, and 
 these lectures were mostly delivered by members of the 
 
Lyceum, who contributed their services without fee or 
 reward. Of the lectures iu the first course, all but four 
 were delivered by gentlemen of Salem. For several 
 years afterwards the lecturers were many of them resi- 
 dents here, and the fee rarely exceeded ten dollars. 
 
 The lectures were at first given in the Methodist 
 Meeting House, in Sewall street. The use of the Town 
 Hall had been asked for, and had been granted by 
 the town ; but upon the latter declining to allow per- 
 manent seats in the Hall, the Lyceum concluded to go 
 elsewhere. The lectures were afterwards delivered iu 
 the Universalist Meeting House. But during the sum- 
 mer of 1830, plans were adopted for the construction of 
 the present Lyceum Hall, and in September a contract 
 was made with William Lummus to build it, and so 
 expeditiously was the work forwarded that it was ready 
 for occupancy in January, 1831. The original cost of 
 the building was $3036.76, and it was erected upon land 
 bought of Mrs. Sarah Orne, for the sum of $750, of 
 which $545 was raised by subscription. The cost 
 of the lectures was so small, and the income of the 
 Lyceum was so large, that in a very few years the debt 
 upon the building was extinguished, and it has since 
 been the property of the members of the Lyceum. 
 
 The tickets for the Lyceum were at first sold at Mr. 
 Buffum's bookstore, in Central Building, and after- 
 wards for many years were subscribed for in the ante- 
 room of the hall, where the lists were in charge of Mr. 
 William Mansfield, who for a long period was identi- 
 fied with the Lyceum by his services. Two courses 
 soon became necessary, so great was the demand for 
 tickets, and it was customary to secure a repetition on 
 Wednesday evening of the lecture first delivered on 
 
6 
 
 Tuesday evening. The evening of Tuesday was usu- 
 ally preferred by the Orthodox subscribers, and that of 
 Wednesday by the Unitarians, and hence the audiences 
 became marked in their character in this respect. Tlie 
 selection of evenings was made by drawing " lots," 
 under Mr. Mansfield's direction. Gentlemen's tickets 
 at the outset were sold for $1, and ladies' tickets for 75 
 cents ; but it was not considered proper for ladies to 
 purchase tickets, unless "introduced" by a gentleman. 
 Their tickets therefore ran as follows : — 
 
 ADMIT 
 
 TO THE 
 
 SALEM LYCEUM, 
 A LADY, 
 
 Introduced by 
 
 Tuesday, 
 
 B. TUCKER, Rec. Sec. 
 
 But it is significant of the change that has since oc- 
 curred in public views of what is proper for females 
 in this respect, that for many years ladies have not 
 only attended the lectures upon equal terms with gen- 
 tlemen, but have assisted to deliver them, until it has 
 come to be thought that a course is incomplete without 
 a lady lecturer or reader. 
 
 During the fifty courses of lectures since the begin- 
 ning, eight hundred and fifty-three lectures have been 
 delivered before the Lyceum, audit will be noticed by a 
 perusal of the lists which are printed herewith that the 
 names embrace many of those most distinguished in the 
 world of literature, science, and politics. It would 
 probably be impossible to find any other institution in 
 
the country which could present such a distinguished 
 list of instructors as this Lyceum. 
 
 It ought to be mentioned that, during all these years, 
 the Lyceum has maintained a "free platform," and dur- 
 ing recent years especially, nearly all topics of moral, 
 political and social interest, have been discussed with 
 the utmost freedom consistent with the proprieties of 
 such an institution. 
 
 In the year 1852, the Ly9eum obtained of the Legis- 
 lature a new Act of Incorporation, under which it acts 
 at the present time. A perusal of this document will 
 inform the reader of the peculiar character of the insti- 
 tution, and of the privileges and rights of its members. 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 EXTRACT FROM THE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HON. 
 HENRY K. OLIVER, AT THE OPENING OF THE FIFTI- 
 ETH ANNUAL COURSE OF LECTURES OF THE SALEM 
 
 LYCEUM, NOV. 13th, 1878. 
 
 Among the institutions affording popular lectures, is 
 that in which we are now specially interested, our own 
 Lyceum, this evening celebrating its semi-centennial 
 anniversary. The word Lyceum is of Greek origin, 
 and is the name which was given to a g3''mnasium, or 
 place of physical and mental instruction, outside and 
 easterly from the city of Athens, and where Aristotle 
 taught, — a temple dedicated to "Apollo Lyceus," or 
 "Apollo of the Light," standing close by and origi- 
 nating the epithet. Our English words, "lucidity," "lu- 
 cent," "lucid," and their relatives, are from the same 
 root. The name is appropriate, for from the Lyceum, 
 or house of light, is to radiate the night-dispelling light 
 of knowledge. There was, at one time, on the ceiling 
 ot this hall, just above the stage, a fresco painting of 
 Apollo Lyceus, in his fiery chariot with fiery coursers. 
 It happened that a gentleman, groping one day in the 
 dark of the attic, put his foot, uninvited, into the char- 
 iot, and through its bottom, into the hall. So the bright 
 ceiling was removed, and a blind put over the hole. 
 There were, also, on the walls in front, frescos of the 
 orators, Cicero and Demosthenes, and of our then 
 townsmen. Judge White and Joseph Peabody, the 
 
9 
 
 father of Col. Francis Peabody. Time and wliitewash 
 have obliterated them. 
 
 And here, leaving for a while the direct subject before 
 me, let me speak of the extraordinary array of men of 
 note, expert and eminent in almost every department 
 of learning, whom I encountered, on coming here from 
 Boston, a stripling of eighteen years, and with whom 
 it was my very great privilege and benefit to associate 
 for many subsequent years. If the language I use seem 
 to my younger hearers inordinately eulogistic, or exag- 
 gerated, I appeal, without fear, to those whose memo- 
 ries recall the men. My limit of time permits me to 
 name but few. 
 
 Bear in mind that the population of Salem was then 
 but about 13,000, or one-half of its present number, 
 and mostly confined within the strip of land between 
 the South and North Rivers, now approaching annihila- 
 tion. But few houses were in North Salem, and none 
 in South beyond the junction of Mill with Lafayette 
 streets, till you reached the Derby estate. Every man 
 of note was known to all his fellow-townsmen, if not 
 personally, yet by name and character. As is known 
 of ancient Athens at its best, — quoting from Hyper- 
 cides, an oration-writer by profession of those days, — 
 "It is impossible for a man in this city to be of good 
 repute, or otherwise, without all of us knowing it." 
 
 And first, I name the venerable and venerated John 
 Prince, minister of the First Church, whose advanced 
 years had not weakened his love of science, nor para- 
 lyzed the skill of his hands in the construction of in- 
 struments of precision and experiment. Herein "his 
 eye was not dimmed, nor his natural force abated." 
 Earth and sky were the fields of his successful investi- 
 
I'D 
 
 gation, — and he prepared his own means of research, — 
 microscope, telescope, pneumatic-pnmp, electric and 
 magnetic apparatns, all seeming to come complete from 
 his successful make and manipulation, like Minerva 
 from the brain of Jove, ready for active work, the en- 
 thusiasm of youth unweakened by any impotence of 
 years. His house, — that now occupied by David Moore 
 on Federal street, — was at once home, library, lecture- 
 room, workshop, and cabinet of curiosities, a rare and 
 interesting combination of the equipments of science, 
 which I often visited. 
 
 Nathaniel Bowditch, whose statue in bronze now 
 marks his resting-place at Mount Auburn, was a mar- 
 vel of mathematical and scientific attainment. His fame 
 can never die, nor his name cease from the lips of men, 
 till ship and sailors cease to grope their way across 
 trackless seas. A victorious student was he in the se- 
 verest fields of mathematical contest, making that best 
 use of his triumphs, in their practical utilization and 
 response to the demands of society, and this in such 
 simplicity of appliance and working, that the average 
 mind encounters small difficulty therein. His transla- 
 tion into English of the Celestial Mechanics of Laplace 
 was a most acceptable relief, as it interpolated steps 
 which, though they were needless to the author's mar- 
 vellous mind, were most embarrassing to the average 
 student, and subjected him to much wearying study to 
 make the connections necessary to the understanding of 
 the subject. Yet though absorption in study is apt to 
 make men recluses, and sometimes even repulsive in 
 manner, the learned halo about them seeming to ordi- 
 nary men a sort of dense impoundment, no man within 
 my memory was more genial, more communicative, 
 
11 
 
 more demonstrative in all the courtesies and ordinary- 
 socialities of life. I knew him well, being Librarian 
 at that time of the Salem Athenaeum, of which he was 
 President, and coming into contact with him every day. 
 
 John Pickering, (son of the well known Col. Tim- 
 othy Pickering, of revolutionary work and fame) , and 
 in recalling and naming him, there return feelings of 
 most earnest respect and gratitude for many acts of 
 personal kindness and assistance in my inexpert days as 
 a teacher. A man was he justly and widely honored 
 for his large and varied learning, specially in the classic 
 languages and literature, possessing that exact knowl- 
 edge of details in grammatical laws and verbal con- 
 struction which aid the young student in many a dis- 
 tressful struggle, as well as give certainty of true schol- 
 arship and merited renown to the man himself. Yet 
 he seemed to be wholly unconscious of his own intel- 
 lectual and scholarly greatness and grasp, — mingling in 
 with us all as a gentle and companionable friend. He 
 was the author, — and all students of Greek blessed him 
 therefor, — who, with the aid of Dr. Daniel Oliver, also 
 of Salem, edited and published a Lexicon of that peer- 
 less language with English renderings, — students before 
 that time having to get the meaning of their words 
 through the medium of Latin. His home was on Chest- 
 nut street, corner of Pickering street. 
 
 I may here mention, as men of scientific and literary 
 note, two relatives of Dr. Daniel Oliver, then resident 
 here. Dr. B. L. Oliver, and his nephew, — in the law, 
 — of the same name. All three of them were noticea- 
 ble for their skill in music. It seems to be in the breed. 
 They, and all of the name hereabouts, — including also 
 many in whom the compound name of Oliver-Wendell 
 
12 
 
 occurs, were descendants from Surgeon Thos. Oliver, 
 the English immigrant to Boston in 1632, who from 
 the seven generations that have followed, has supplied 
 to Harvard and Dartmouth Colleges, up to 1870, thirty- 
 six out of their forty-five graduates of that name, be- 
 sides a long roll by marriage into other names, and of 
 these three or four Doctors in each generation. There 
 is a smell of medicine all adown the line. 
 
 I next mention Joseph Story, the great jurist and 
 judge, a marvel of legal learning, reinforced by an 
 amount of general attainments and accomplishments, 
 that it would seem might require more than an ordinary 
 life to secure. His powers of conversation, fluency af 
 speech, and command of words, were, like those of Dr. 
 Bentley, of the East Church, the admiration of their 
 day. No subject seemed to be beyond their reach, 
 grasp and control, and they each seemed to be ready 
 with speech and argument for whatever subject-matter 
 might turn up. 
 
 I will here mention one, Mr. Thomas Spencer, whom, 
 however, I did not meet till a])out 1825-26, when he 
 came to Salem, having immigrated to the United States 
 from England in 1816, and who, after a long residence 
 here, returned to his own country, where he died, to 
 enjoy in retirement a valuable inherited estate. A 
 hard-working day-laborer while here, as a tallow-chan- 
 dler, he yet became noted for his knowledge and skill 
 in the science of Optics, and his expertness in arbori- 
 culture. He was also the originator of that deservedly 
 famous and toothsome confection, sought by young 
 and old, rich, dainty, and durable in its relish, and 
 which made Salem famous for titbits, as well as for 
 witches, beauty, and learning, — the noted "Gibralter," 
 
13 
 
 taking name from its firm make and power of withstand- 
 ing long continued siege of suck. To my recent gus- 
 tatory experience, however, the modern is inferior in 
 richness of tonguey tickle and power of endurance to 
 the old. Is its making one of the lost arts ? 
 
 Mr. Spencer's leaving was matter of great regret, and 
 his frequent letters hither, and his hospitable reception 
 at his English home of American visitors, testified to 
 his grateful memory of his sojourn with us. That truth 
 is gtranger than fiction, was verified in a life, which, 
 starting among the zeros of social position and mental 
 opportunity, culminated into that of a wealthy and hos- 
 pitable land-holder, and of an eminent man of science. 
 The love of learning is of most democratic propensities, 
 taking root and growing in whatever soil, regardless of 
 anything, excepting its genialit}^, affluence of food, and 
 power of push towards growth and maturity. 
 
 But, of these samples, perhaps enough have been 
 quoted. The difficulty is not to find, but, to select, one 
 is so bewildered with the mighty array. Y^et there is one 
 other name, to omit which would be doing violence to my 
 own feelings, and be unjust to him and to you. Its ut- 
 terance never fails to awaken vivid emotions of g^rateful 
 respect, and to bring to memory one of whom any city 
 might justly be proud. Always devoted to the good 
 of our community, and to effort by word and act to- 
 wards its enduring welfare, he regarded himself as less 
 than his town and his townsmen, his afi:*ection for each 
 being always earnest and demonstrative. The personal 
 attractions of a manly figure and a winning face, were 
 supplemented by a noble nature, nobly developed, with 
 just impartiality in his estimate of men and their mo- 
 tives and actions. Of eminent rank at the bar, and 
 
14 
 
 eagerly sought by clients, his professional obligations 
 never excluded his general culture, and he was at once 
 a wise advocate, a safe adviser, an impressive and elo- 
 quent speaker, adorning office, refining society, and 
 enriching home with profusest affection. His worship- 
 ping nature made him an earnestly religious man, and for 
 years his rich voice gave utterance to his prayerful spir- 
 it as he joined in the service of song in public worship. 
 "So well were the elements mixed in him that 
 
 " Nature might stand up 
 And say to all the world : This was a man." 
 
 A laudable ambition accepted the offices you gave him. 
 You sent him to Congress without his asking, and you 
 made him your first Mayor. It was Leverett Sal- 
 
 TONSTALL." 
 
 Now it would be hardly possible for a community in 
 which were found men like these, and scores of others, 
 their fellows, — the town probabl}' never had so great a 
 proportion of educated men within its limits, old and 
 younger college alumni were here in dozens, — it would 
 be hardly possible not to feel their control, nor to be 
 inspired by their influence. If you move in the sun- 
 shine, you will feel its warmth and know its light. If 
 you walk amid roses, you will inhale their perfume. 
 
 And so, at last, when " the fulness of time was com- 
 pleted," the seed germinated and the plant appeared 
 above ground. 
 
 The first movement in the direction of public lec- 
 tures, in our vicinity, is credited to the late Col. 
 Francis Peabody, well known and well remembered by 
 many of us. His home was then in the large brick 
 house on Essex street, west of Plummer Hall and the 
 
15 
 
 AtheiiEeum, on whose site stood his father's house, oue 
 of our older and most noted merchants. Col. Peabo- 
 dy's tastes were thoroughly scientific, and much in the 
 direction of the mechanics of science. In his day, say 
 from 1826 to the time of his death in 1867, were very 
 many persons in Salem, both competent and inclined to 
 aid and promote his efforts. The first manifestation 
 seems to have been the course before the Essex Lodge 
 of Free Masons, in the winter of 1827. 
 
 In 1828, our Salem Charitable Mechanic Associa- 
 tion inaugurated a course of lectures for the gratifica- 
 tion and instruction of its members and Iheir families, 
 and during the same year Col. Peabody gave a course 
 of free lectures on " Steam, the Steam Engine, and 
 their Utilities," subjects then new and exciting an in- 
 tense interest, and which were destined to work marvel- 
 lous revolutions in the world and its ways. 
 
 The same gentleman, in conjunction with Jonathan 
 Webb, gave free lectures on Electricity, in the same 
 season of 1828, in Concert, now Phoenix, Hall, at the 
 foot of Central street. These gentlemen were experts 
 in the science, their practical manipulations verifying 
 their theories with convincing instruction, their appa- 
 ratus being complete and effective in every respect. I 
 knew them both intimately. Col. Peabody, w4th his 
 ample means generously poured forth, and his earnest- 
 ness of work, was well reinforced by Mr. Webb, with 
 equal earnestness, energy of purpose, and physical ac- 
 tivity. He was an apothecary, his last place of business 
 having been in the brick building opposite Barton 
 Square Church. His was a spirit of great enterprise, a 
 mind exceptionally well cultivated, and a nature most 
 genial and companionable. Indeed, he was the wit of 
 
16 
 
 the town, having that quick sense of the ridiculous, that 
 keen vision in its discovery, and that rich power of ex- 
 pressing it in apt and telling language, that never failed 
 to wake us into an uproar of enjoyment. He was a 
 sort of cachinnatory apostle of mirth and good health, 
 often saying that a merry laugh was better than all the 
 medicine in his shop. His bodily health, however, was 
 never equal to his mental vigor and his love of scientific 
 work, and he died at the early age of thirty-seven years, 
 in August, 1832. At the time of his death, he was en- 
 gaged in the improvement and enlargement of his elec- 
 tric apparatus, — a splendid plate machine, of the largest 
 diameter then made, being then on its passage to him 
 from St. Petersburg. His early leaving us w\as deeply 
 lamented, no man in the then town being more general- 
 ly known or more heartily beloved. As an experimen- 
 tal lecturer he had no superior. I well remember how 
 comically he startled a whole audience in this room by 
 the instantaneous explosion by the electric spark of 
 about twenty air pistols, placed about the cornice of 
 this room, each filled with explosive gas and connected 
 together and to the machine by a copper wire. But few 
 of us were in the secret, and the suddenness and big 
 bang of the discharge, the screams and the " Oh mys " 
 of the feminines, the chirruping of the children, and the 
 outspoken " what-in-thunder is that" of the men, and 
 our own loud laugh, made the hall a confused theatre of 
 uproarious merriment. So did the old experiment of 
 sending a sharp shock of electricity through the joined 
 hands of some scores of people, each one of whom real- 
 ly believed he was the first one hit, so synchronous was 
 the blow. But these were merely the curious and 
 amusing manifestations of powers, which now, in their 
 
17 
 
 riper development, have revolutionized travel, business, 
 and all inter-communication, as well as very many of 
 our ways of life. And the cry, like that in Macbeth, 
 is, " and still they come," — the end is not yet, nay, is 
 it not the mere beginning? So amazing, so almost in- 
 credible, have been their developments, their manifesta- 
 tions, their infltiences, that the world is prepared to re- 
 ceive with small surprise any and whatever discoveries 
 and inventions may be awaiting birth. 
 
 These exhibitions, and the familiar oral explanations 
 illustrating them, for written lectures and prepared 
 platform essays had not as yet reached the stage, ex- 
 cited greatest interest, and awakened a determinate 
 purpose to secure more and kindred knowledge, and to 
 create a permanent institution for its attainment and 
 wider diffusion. 
 
 The methods of these pioneers had been wisely ju- 
 dicious. They had allured, not repelled, — and so had 
 created scores of " Olivers asking for more." They 
 gave the best teaching, inasmuch as it was of the illus- 
 trated verities of science, with palpable exhibit of ev- 
 ery scientific truth they announced. The ear heard and 
 the eye saw, and when the earnest men who led the 
 work, — and they were among Salem's then best, and 
 her best were among the best of the whole land, — put 
 themselves to the task of elaborating a permanent 
 means of instruction by lectures, they met the sympa- 
 thetic encouragement and support of the community. 
 
 Confining myself to our own institution (the attempt 
 to create a County Lyceum, though pushed by leading 
 minds in Essex County, failing) , it appears that a meet- 
 ing for its initiation was held at the house of Col. Pea- 
 body, then on Essex, near Dean street, on the evening 
 3 
 
18 
 
 of January 4th, 1830. Twenty gentlemen there gath- 
 ered, of whom fifteen are dead, the five survivors being 
 Messrs. George Wheathmd, David Roberts, Wm. P. 
 Endicott, S. P. Webb and Caleb Foote. Two of them 
 are of our ex-Mayors. Of the deceased I quote Daniel 
 A. White, Robert Rantoul, Jr., Warwick Palfray, 
 Stephen C. Phillips and Dr. A. L. Peirson. Of the 
 twelve gentlemen selected on the 12th of January at 
 the Town Hall, to prepare a Constitution and By-laws, 
 only one, Dr. Choate, survives. Among them were 
 Judge White, L. Saltonstall, S. C. Phillips, A. L. 
 Peirson and Col. Pealiody. Adopting the motion of 
 Dr. Peirson — whose sad death in 1853, at the territic 
 railroad disaster at Norwalk Bridge, Conn., is yet fresh 
 in the memory — it was voted, that "it is expedient to 
 establish in Salem an institution for the purpose of 
 mutual instruction and rational entertainment by means 
 of public lectures and debates." This vote took sub- 
 stantial form by an election, on the following 18th of 
 January, of five executive officers ; a President, Judge 
 White ; a Vice President, Stephen C. Phillips ; a Record- 
 ing Secretary, S. P. Webb ; a Corresponding Secre- 
 tary, Chas. W. Upham ; and a Treasurer, Francis Pea- 
 body ; an admirable selection. At an adjourned meet- 
 ing on the 20th, the organization was completed by the 
 addition of ten Directors. To the self-sacrificing labors 
 of three of these men, Messrs. White, Phillips and 
 Peabody, this institution owes the deepest gratitude. 
 Their names should be honored by permanent record 
 on its walls. 
 
 To those of you who, year after year, during the last 
 half century, have partaken of the wholesome food 
 atfered, at cheapest rate, by this institution, and who 
 
19 
 
 have come to its feasts as naturally and as regularly 
 as herd and flock seek their pasture, it may seem singu- 
 larly strange, that its initiation should have encountered 
 opposition. Yet it did — though that antagonism from 
 its very unreasonableness, served the good purpose or 
 augmenting the earnestness and activity of its friends, 
 and their resolve to achieve success. So to those who, 
 after the lapse of a half century therefriom, shall cele- 
 brate the establishment here of a Free Public Library, 
 and a free Public Reading Room, whenever such " con- 
 summation devoutly to be wished," shall occur, it will 
 seem equally strange, perhaps incredible, that any op- 
 position now, should have delayed an event which 
 is, nevertheless, an inevitable certainty, though many 
 may die without the sight. But returning — the good 
 ship '"Lyceum" was now launched, equipped, officered, 
 and ready for sea, and a favoring breeze swelling her 
 canvass, she began her voyage under the very best 
 auspices. 
 
 As I recall the men who began this work, all oi 
 whom were my companions and friends, there returns 
 the old feeling of profound respect for the noble and 
 unselfish spirit which characterized them. I doubt 
 whether in any community of equal population (we 
 had then about 15,000 people), or in even one of a 
 greater, — such an array of men, so noteworthy, so bril- 
 liant, excelling in so great a variety of acquirement, 
 could be found. And yet that array could here have 
 then been doubled and trebled. Four of them were, 
 at different dates, members of Congress, that distinc- 
 tion, at that date, signifying high honor, — four were 
 lawyers, three were clergymen, and five were men in 
 absorbing and responsible business positions. Of the 
 
20 
 
 twenty original projectors, fifteen are dead, of tlie 
 twelve who prepared the Constitution, eleven are dead, 
 of the fifteen who composed the first corps of officers, 
 twelve are dead. And as indicative of the sharp sec- 
 tarianism that then divided and disturbed the commu- 
 nity, it may be mentioned that these officers were se- 
 lected, not without regard to their several religious be- 
 liefs. Eight were of Unitarian, and seven of Ortho- 
 dox creeds, all the five executive officers being Unita- 
 rians, and yet no religious dissonances seem to have 
 marred their doings, nor have any since disturbed the 
 harmony of the institution, or of its management. 
 Science and true learning stand on neutral ground, 
 each bearing a perpetual flag of truce. The whole con- 
 ducting of this institution has been with the utmost 
 liberality and with unbiased impartiality, in both poli- 
 tics and religion. 
 
 The earliest embarrassment encountered, was that 
 of finding a room adapted to meet all the exigencies of 
 varied lecture-work, that of the essayist, and that of 
 the experimental scientist, and, at the same time, con- 
 venient to ihe audience in all respects of seats, of 
 sight, and of hearing. There was no such place, and 
 the best that could be done was to use some one of our 
 churches. The Mechanic Hall, now greatly improved, 
 was not built till ten years later. The Methodist 
 Chapel, in Sewall street, and the Universalist Church, 
 on Rust street, were utilized during the first season, 
 the introductory of February 24th, 1830, by Judge 
 White, — and the second, of March 3d, by Rev. Dr. 
 Brazer, — being delivered in the former, and the remain- 
 insf twelve in the other two before named. So were 
 the first five of the second course, beginning on the 
 
21 
 
 evening of December 1st, 1830, — the sixth of that 
 course being given as the first in this hall, January 20th, 
 1831, by Hon. Stephen C. Phillips. During the sum- 
 mer of 1830, and in the interval between the first and 
 second course, this hall was erected on a portion of the 
 then garden of Rev. Mr. Upham, then of the First 
 Church, afterwards our Representative in Congress, 
 who occupied the estate now owned by Dr. Cate. The 
 building was planned and reared under the supervision 
 of Col. Peabody. The land was purchased of Mrs: 
 Sarah Orne, recently deceased, for $750, the cost of the 
 building being about $4,500, including fixtures, and the 
 property stands unincumbered. The changes of this 
 year have greatly added to its conveniences. It is in 
 the form of the ancient Roman Theatre, but with its 
 stage carried farther back from the audience. For the 
 purpose of hearers, it is well adapted, though a slight 
 echo occasionally vexes the speaker, — but for advan- 
 tageous display of illustrative diagrams, and show of 
 tentative apparatus, it is not without objection, inas- 
 much as the seats on the extreme right and left of the 
 auditorium, afford no clear view of these means of elu- 
 cidation The funds for its erection were from dona- 
 tions by friends, — the money being advanced by eludge 
 White, whose home was adjoining the City Hall. 
 
 His introductory lecture, upon "The Advantages of 
 Knowledge," was a model of classical English, neither 
 stilted nor meretricious in style, nor showy in lan- 
 guage — but plain, clear, and forcible, an overflowing 
 fountain of wise thought and well considered practical 
 suggestion. No man in any community could be more 
 earnest and solicitous for the mental and moral welfare 
 of his fellow men, or a more pure example in all that 
 
22 
 
 pertains to a good life and to best citizenship. He 
 gave his hirge and valuable private library to the Essex 
 Institute, at different times, in all eight thousand vol- 
 umes. 
 
 The first lecture in this hall was, as I have said, by 
 Mr. Stephen C. Phillips, upon "the influence of this 
 country and its age upon the condition of mankind." 
 The author was equal to the theme, and the subject, 
 fertile in suofo'estiou and rich in substantial material, 
 Avas admirably treated, and eloquently delivered. Mr. 
 Phillips, the only son of oue of our rich merchants, 
 had graduated with distinction at Harvard iu the class 
 of 1819, in which same year Kufus Choate had gradu- 
 ated at Dartmouth. He began life here under most 
 favorable prestige, and with best auguries of suc- 
 cess. An excellent scholar, with wide general cul- 
 ture, a fluent and pleasing speaker, he kept the audi- 
 ence in steady and vivid attention, and gave a lively 
 impetus to the new departure. He did not give himself 
 to professional study, but entered upon a commercial 
 life. 
 
 Before speaking, as I propose to do, upon other 
 lecturers and their lectures, let me give some statis- 
 tics of the institution itself. The new hall, concen- 
 trating the general interest upon something before un- 
 known iu Salem, and now recognized as the specialty 
 of a new means of exceptional instruction and refined 
 amusement, seemed to assure the success of the enter- 
 prise, by "giving it a local habitation and a name" — 
 and that assurance has been verified by the continuous 
 and uninterrupted good work of half a century. The 
 hall itself has also afforded convenient facilities for 
 a great variety of gatherings, scientific, political, and 
 
23 
 
 musical. Its central situation, facility of access, and 
 general aptness ; its form and arrangement, all unite to 
 render it desirable, while the seating is such that every- 
 body can see everybody else. 
 
 The Lyceum has presented under its eighteen differ- 
 ent Presidents (the term of Dr. Loring, now in its 
 twelfth year, being the longest), 853 lectures, having 
 enlisted in its service men --ot eminent rank in science 
 and in letters. 
 
 I find on its records the names of Daniel Webster, 
 Rufus Choate, Edward Everett, and his kinsman Alex 
 ander H. Everett, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Oliver 
 Wendell Holmes, Charles F. Adaais and ex-Presi- 
 dent John Quincy Adams, Horace Mann, Jared Sparks, 
 James Walker, Robert C. Winthrop, the twins, O. 
 W. B. and B. W. O. Peabody, Caleb Cushing, Henry 
 Giles, Edwin P. Whipple, Wendoll Phillips, Charles 
 Sumner, Plenry Wilson, James Freeman Clarke, Ed- 
 ward Everett Hale, Louis Agussiz, George William 
 Curtis, Fann3'^ Kemble, James T. Fields, and George 
 Bancroft. 
 
 More than a score these, of the most eminent literary 
 celebrities of their day, three of them Presidents of 
 Harvard College and eight of them eminent members 
 of Congress, while any one in the list could better have 
 filled that position than any average member of to-day. 
 Of this list I find that Mr. Emerson was the most fre- 
 quently employed, having lectured twenty-eight times, 
 and Wendell Phillips appealing sixteen times, Mr. 
 Giles the same number, and James F. Clarke eight 
 times. Of this list, Mr. Emerson, reckoning from the 
 twentieth course, lectured in every course but one for 
 twenty-one years. I doubt whether such continuity 
 
24 
 
 can be paralleled in any other Lyceum. In 1848 Prof. 
 A^assiz ofave one course of live on the Animal Crea- 
 tion, and in 1849 one course of three on the Vegetable 
 Kingdom. Mr. (Hies, in 1842, one course of three on 
 Irish History, Character, and Society. In 1848, J. P. 
 Nichols gave a very instructive series of six, on As- 
 tronomy. Of some few of these lectures I will speak 
 farther on. 
 
 From the start it was intended to make use, to a 
 considerable extent, of the talent and means of our own 
 citizens, and I fiad among the names those of Judge 
 White, John Bn.zer, Francis Peabody, A. L. Peirson, 
 George Choate, Pufus Choate, Thomas Spencer, S. C. 
 Phillips, Henry (dolman, H. K. Oliver, Charles W. 
 Upham, Jonathar Webb, John Pickering, Leverett 
 Saltonstall, Caleb Foote, Edwin P. Whipple, George 
 H. Devereux, Charles G. Page, George B. Loring, 
 George W. Briggs, ind Octavius B. Frothingham. 
 
 Payment for lectures, excepting for stated courses, 
 was not the early rule,* the necessary expenses of travel 
 and of moving apparatus only being met. The highest 
 single fee was of $10Q, to Mr. Webster ; the lowest, 
 $10 and $20, to ordinai^y parties. For lectures by Mr. 
 Evans, repeated on successive evenings in a double 
 course, $100 were paid ; and $400 to Mr. Barbour, for 
 a course of nine double lectures on Phrenology. Towns- 
 men, after 1836, seemed to have received $20 a lecture. 
 The employment of special "sters," at specially high 
 rates, does not seem to have been encouraged. 
 
 Out of the whole number of 853 since the start in 
 1830, 170, or about one-fifth, have been given by Sa- 
 lemites, and these generally on scientific subjects. Up 
 to 1845, they had given 127. There was then a fall- 
 
25 
 
 ing off. Between 1845 and 1853 they gave 14, and in 
 the seven next years, to 1860, but 4 ; in the following 
 seventeen years 29, the greatest number by any one, 
 and in the earlier conrses, being 9, (H. K. Oliver). 
 The concerts, usually at the opening of a course, have 
 been 14 in number, all between 1830 and 1848, and 
 all of exceptional excellence, as were the several exhi- 
 bitions in Reading and in Declamation. I will now 
 speak of some of the more prominent of the lectures, 
 as I recall them, having already alluded to those by 
 Judge White and S. C. Phillips, and to those of Col. 
 Peabody and Mr. Webb, and I select those by Mr. 
 Emerson, Mr. Upham, Mr. Giles, Mr, Webster, Mr. 
 Hudson, Mr. Whipple, Mr. Catlin, and the scientific 
 lectures of Prof. Agassiz and Prof. Page. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson, our most frequent lecturer, 
 was a son of Rev. Wm. Emerson, of Boston, minister 
 of its First Church, w^hich, successively standing on 
 State street, on the Joy's building site, and on Chauncy 
 Place, is now on the Back Bay. 
 
 For variety of subject, aptness in treatment, great 
 intellectual display, and profound power of thought, I 
 can imagine nothing superior. It used to be said of 
 him that he was too much of a transcendentalist, prone 
 to discuss subjects transcending the reach of the senses, 
 and so beyond reach of the average comprehension. 
 Of his ability to grapple and to vauquish each and all 
 of those he attempted, there is no lack of proof, while 
 the very fact of his frequent appearance here, shows 
 conclusively that he was never beyond our reach, how- 
 ever high he soared, and that is a comi^liment to us, 
 and we were never willing to dispense with his teach- 
 ings. Not seldom were we startled by some new ap- 
 
26 
 
 plication of an old word to a new use, or of an 
 old word applied felicitously to a new thought, and 
 clothing that thought with new attraction. His lec- 
 tures that I specially mention, were those on Man- 
 ners, and on Napoleon, and most impressive and win- 
 ning of attention were they. To measure them all 
 aright, one would need to be Emerson himself, and I 
 will only venture a word or two about these two. He 
 gave his own conception of fine manners. One meets 
 them, he said, but once or twice in one's whole life. 
 Their charm is that they are not assumed, neither fac- 
 titious nor fictitious, being of very nature, natural. 
 Concealing nothing, they display their perfectness by 
 their naturalness, illustrated in each act and word — their 
 beautiful nature being more beautiful than any l)eauti- 
 ful form or face, this unartful art of good manners be- 
 ing the very finest of the fine arts. Are we now, in 
 family and school and daily life, allowing it to become 
 one of the lost arts? 
 
 Bonaparte he characterized as the best known, and 
 most powerful man of the 19th century, thoroughly of 
 the times, timeserving, neither monk nor saint, nor hon- 
 est man, and, in its true sense not a hero ; with no 
 scruple of means in reaching his ends, acting on the 
 Italian proverb, that " if you would succeed, you must 
 not be too good." Catering for the many, he declared 
 his aristocracy to be the rabble, and yet laboring, art- 
 fully for that great middle class that was striving after 
 wealth. In him were combined the elements of agita- 
 tor, radical, destroyer of prescription, subverter of 
 monopolies and abuse. The noble, the rich, and all 
 sleepy conservatives, hated him, and so England, Rome, 
 and Austria, homes of conservatism, aided by despotic 
 
27 
 
 Russia, fought him. His history was alluring, but he 
 was destitute of sentiment, truth and honesty ; a bound- 
 less liar, an unmatched egotist, who, in his premature 
 old age, on his lonely island of exile, falsified dates and 
 characters, and strove to make history the show of the 
 theatre. To effect his aims, he would steal, drown, 
 poison, or assassinate. In short, after one had pene- 
 trated through the mist of power and splendor that en- 
 veloped him, he would find that he had not reached a 
 gentleman, but a rogue, — a villain, — a sort of Jupiter 
 Scapin (as the French say), a scampy Jove. Now, I 
 think, that a quiet life, however obscure, of being good 
 and doing good, is vastly preferable to a life, that on 
 review by posterity, receives such an excoriation. 
 
 Mr. Emerson's manner and pose of body on the stage, 
 seemed, at first sight, to have an element of formality, 
 something of stately dignity. Yet this impression van- 
 ished ver}^ soon, and the hearer was won by the look 
 of a cheerful and cheering face, the sound of a firm, 
 distinct, and mellifluous voice, and an outpour in the 
 very best English of most instructive and suggestive 
 thought. 
 
 Mr. Upham's lectures, in 1831, on that obscure de- 
 lusion, the Salem Witchcraft, indicated rare industry 
 and perseverance of research, with impartial well-bal- 
 anced judgment of historical evidence and traditionary 
 rumor. They became the foundation of his exhaustive 
 work on that strange and most unhappy delusion, — a 
 delusion by no means confined to this part of the world, 
 — a work in which patience and thoroughness of inves- 
 tigation are only equalled by accuracy of detail and at- 
 tractive literary style and finish. The work has become 
 a standard authority. When delivered here, the sev- 
 
28 
 
 eral lectures were of great length, yet local interest in 
 the subject, local allusions, and local names and celeb- 
 rities, and the eminent titness of treating this special 
 theme near the place of the occurrences, excited a vivid 
 interest, and kept the large audiences in close attention 
 for more than two hours on each evening. By the 
 well-known work, in which they are now united, and by 
 his admirable and accurate biography of Col. Timothy 
 Pickering, our townsman of revolutionary fame, Mr. 
 Upham has attained a well merited renown as an author. 
 He was a member of Congress in 1854, and the Mayor 
 of the city in 1852. 
 
 liufus Choate's lecture, on the "Romance of the 
 Sea," in 1837, a subject for which his birth-place and ear- 
 ly associations and impressions well fitted him, was as 
 unique in its title as it was marvellous in its treatment 
 and exposition. Of all his rich and surpassingly beau- 
 tiful productions, this was foremost, and most eagerly 
 sousrht. He was born and had been reared mid the 
 sisrhts and the scenes of the "sad sea- wave." He had 
 listened, in boyhood, to its hoarse murmurings, its 
 defiant roar, and its terrific ragings. His imagination, 
 stimulated by all his early associations, teemed with 
 metaphoric allusions to the ocean, its surroundings, and 
 its eventful histories. Nay, the danger was not want- 
 ing, at one time, that the sea would gain a hero, and 
 the law lose one of its most brilliant and dazzling 
 gems. 
 
 My acquaintance with Mr. Choate began at college, 
 in 1816, and was of that intimate nature which college 
 life always creates, when there are but few to share it. 
 Dartmouth had, at that time, but one hundred and six- 
 teen students, in all its four classes, and he, of the class 
 
29 
 
 of 1819, was head and shoulders above every man in 
 all that makes perfection of scholarship and literary 
 finish, yet all unconscious did he seem to be of his own 
 complete eminence. As I have written of him in anoth- 
 er place, "my mind's eye often sees his manly and at- 
 tractive figure and strangely winning face, and my 
 mind's ear often hears his deeply resonant and impres- 
 sive voice ; and there is again wakened man}'^ a remin- 
 iscence of his gentleness of temper and disposition, his 
 warm sympathies, his innate sense of right, his refined 
 courtesy, his completeness as a gentleman, his love of 
 all that is beautiful in life, in nature, and in art; his 
 wonderful mental gifts, his marvellous memory and ac- 
 quisition of all varied learning." No man in college 
 was ever named with him in rate of scholarship. In 
 fact, we set him apart and above us all, as on a pedes- 
 tal by himself, "himself his only parallel." His essays 
 then were best of all, leading us captive by his grasp of 
 subject, his eloquent diction, his beautiful imagery, and 
 charm of profuse illustration, his command of words 
 and skill in their use ; and in this "Romance of the 
 Sea," and in his others, "The History of Poland," 
 (1831), and "The applicability of American scenes and 
 history to the genius of Walter Scott," he showed an 
 equal command of his themes, and equal power and at- 
 traction in treatment and delivery. But of all his pro- 
 ductions, this was the crowning glory. A singular fate 
 befel it ; it having been stolen after a delivery in New 
 York, the only consolation for the great loss being that 
 no mortal save himself, or, perhaps, his son Rufus, 
 could possibly decipher it. Like all the rest of his 
 chirography, it was burdened with abbreviations, inter- 
 linings, and erasures, — a very labyrinth of hieroglyphics, 
 
30 
 
 resembling nothing so much as the tracks on paper of 
 an ink-smeared spider. 
 
 From about 1823, Mr. Choate practised law in Pea- 
 body, then South Danvers ; in 1828, he removed to Sa- 
 lem : and in 1836, to Boston. He represented this dis- 
 trict in Congress in 1831 and 1834 — two sessions — dy- 
 ing in July, 1859, at Halifax, on his second voyage to 
 Europe. The universality of grief which this event 
 occasioned, expressed the strong hold he had upon all 
 hearts. The pulpit bore witness to his excellence as a 
 man, and his noble moral intluence, and th^Bar to his 
 great power as a lawyer and an advocate, and a fair and 
 honorable antagonist. 
 
 The lecture of Daniel Webster, at the opening of the 
 8th Course, in 1836, " upon Popular Knowledge as ap- 
 plied to scientific improvements," though in some de- 
 gree outside and foreign to his habitual studies and pur- 
 suits as a lawyer and a statesman, was treated with that 
 comprehensive grasp and command which l^ecome the 
 normal function of minds of rarest power, minds which 
 compensate all the many and great deficiencies of early 
 training, by a victorious mastery over the widest range 
 of knowledge. The attention of the audience was 
 riveted to the speaker from the beginning to the end. 
 To be sure it was Webster, in his full development, in 
 his massive and superb presence and quiet self-posses- 
 sion, — with the clear utterance of his rich, deep-toned 
 and musical voice, and his grace of delivery, the out- 
 ward manifestations of the marvellous intellect within 
 — these all conspiring to hold to an almost breathless 
 listening. The subject was handled in an entirely sim- 
 ple way, no one failing to follow as he showed the real 
 and abiding functions of science to be the inciting of 
 
31 
 
 art, to bring the power of the human mmd to the aid 
 of the human hand ; to promote all convenience, to 
 lighten labor, to mitigate toil by enlarging the domain 
 of the human intellect over the elements of matter, to 
 make those elements submit to human rule, human 
 bidding, and to tullest co-operation in securing human 
 happiness. 
 
 I can make but brief allusion to the admirable and 
 instructive lectures of Mr. H. N. Hudson, upon Shaks- 
 peare (1845 and 1846), with their energetic style and 
 aphoristic sentences, provocative, every way, to farther 
 study of that marvellous genius who "expanded the 
 reach of the drama beyond all its former limits ; de- 
 veloping humanity in its stronger lights and subtler 
 movements in a language more diversified by fancy and 
 passion, than was ever before uttered." 
 
 Brief, too, must be my reference to the vivacious and 
 quickening essays of our once townsman, E. P. Whip- 
 ple, sparkling and crispy, full of richest wit and raciest 
 humor, with sound and discriminating analysis of the 
 subject in hand. Three of them I distinctly recall — 
 one upon "Wit and Humor," one upon the "Ludicrous 
 Side of Life," and one upon the "Literature of Impu- 
 dence," this last, I venture to say — never attempted by 
 any one else, and in which he gave many a stunning 
 specimen of the sublimest insolence and swagger — felic- 
 itous specimens of what the Greek poet Menander, 
 calls the very best provision for a prosperous life. 
 
 A few words, — all too few for their merit, — must be 
 given to the lectures of Mr. Henry Giles. They were 
 14 in number, on eleven different subjects, the three 
 upon Irish History, Character and Society, being (not 
 indeed better than the rest, all were of the his'hest 
 
character, of marked originality and best finish), yet 
 specially striking for their fervid eloquence and intense 
 magnetism, embodying, as they did, in burning words 
 and impassioned utterance, the soul-felt warmth, and 
 the overmastering earnestness of an Irishman pro- 
 claiming the wrongs of his country, and pleading her 
 cause before the jurj^ of all the world. To Mr. Giles's 
 moral nature wrong was wrong, and the wrongs suf- 
 fered by his country at the hand of England, were the 
 wrongest of all wrongs, and he denounced them in 
 words, not like those of Talleyrand, "made to conceal 
 thought," but in words that were the voice of the heart, 
 coming, with no uncertain sound, but in tones intended 
 to brand with infamy the nation that he believed had 
 been to his country a worse foe than Eussia to Poland. 
 His other lectures, best remembered by me, (all were 
 given in the seasons between 1843 and 1849,) were those 
 upon Burns, Don Quixote, and FalstafF, — all of which 
 evinced a quick, yet exact insight into the inner thought 
 domain of their several authors, revealing, as it were, 
 an inside view of the working of the brain and of its 
 parturitions, by force of intensest stimulus of the imag- 
 ination. What would be adequate fee for one such look 
 while the brain of Cervantes was generating Don Quix- 
 .ote, or Shakspeare was in genesis of that mountain of 
 bombast, whom the merry wives of Windsor packed 
 into a buck-basket. Ah ! what peals of laughter echoed 
 through this hall as Giles, — himself quickened and in- 
 oculating us all with the drollery of his subject, his eyes 
 flashing with merriment, his features all aglow with the 
 jollity of his theme, his very frame in a flutter of excite- 
 ment, — poured from his eloquent tongue, his matchless 
 delineation of this motley conception of the immortal 
 
33 
 
 bard equally at home from fairy to Falstafi", from clown 
 •to king. Equally fervid, also, was he in all else he 
 gave us, and I can hardly recall a popular lecturer, who 
 so thoroughly captured his audience and held them en- 
 chained to his speech. 
 
 But I must not omit mention of the lectures upon the 
 life, manners, and customs, and history of our aborigi- 
 nal Indians, by George Catlin of Wyoming, and after- 
 wards of Philadelphia, who, in the year 1832, penetrat- 
 ed what was then called the Far West, — the region be- 
 yond the Missouri river and the Rocky mountains, and 
 north of the Arkansas, that mainlj^ north of the 40th 
 degree of north latitude, where are now the states of 
 Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Dacotah — and 
 passed eight years with "Lo, the poor Indian", 
 "overcoming", as he says, "all the hazards and pri- 
 vations of a life devoted to the production of a lit- 
 eral delineation of races, rapidly passing away, of 
 a dying people, who have no historians to write their 
 annals ; and to perpetuating some monument to the 
 memory of lofty and noble tribes. Indian tribes, In 
 their primitive genuineness, the original, pure, unadul- 
 terated article, — not that which by contact with the 
 pale faced stealers of their land-heritage, has been de- 
 bauched by white men and rotted by whiskey, but as ne, 
 the first white man they had seen, found them, honest, 
 hospitable, brave, stoical, crafty, cruel, revengeful, re- 
 lentless, never knowing fear nor fearing death. He 
 visited eighteen different tribes, speaking nearly as many 
 dialects, and comprising about four hundred thousand 
 souls. A painter by profession and taking with him all 
 necessary apparatus, he brought safely home, three hun- 
 dred and ten portraits of men and women, in all their va- 
 riety of costumes, of peace and of war, — and two hun- 
 
 5 
 
34 
 
 dred other paintings of their vilhiges, their wigwams, 
 games, religious-ceremonies, their dances, their ball 
 plays, their butifalo-hunting and other amusements, con- 
 taining in all over three thousand full-length iigures, with 
 an endless collection now known as the Catlin Gallery in 
 Washington. Of their domestic, hunting, and warlike 
 implements, — all these exhaustively illustrating people 
 whose origin is beyond reach, whose early history is un- 
 known, whose tribal and national existence is rapidly ex- 
 piring by grace of civilized vice and bayonet, and of 
 whom, within the past two hundred and fifty years, 
 twelve millions have gone to fatten the soil, whereon they 
 were born, lived their wild lite, and died, and whereon 
 forty-four millions of white men, with the multiform 
 paraphernalia \thich science and art have supplied, are 
 now developing all the possibilities of the highest civili- 
 zation. These lectures, delivered orally and affluent 
 in anecdote, were of mast absorbing attractiveness 
 liberally illustrated by exhibition on the walls and on 
 the stage, of Indians portraits, costumes, weapons and 
 utensils with paintings representing the strange charac- 
 teristics of the several tribes visited, and all their pecu- 
 liar ways and means. The lecturer, at times, appeared 
 in the full dress of the war-dance, armed and equipped 
 for service, and with foot, step, hideous grimace and 
 war whoop, gave impressive ideas of the big Indian's 
 darings and prowess. An enthusiastic advocate of the 
 rights of the red men, his descriptions of savage life, 
 ^vcrc, — like his pictures, — somewhat highly colored, 
 thouofh, in the main, doubtless true to life while his 
 long familiarity with aboriginal archery, may be a good 
 excuse for his occasional drawing of a "long-bow" in 
 their defence. 
 
 Mr. Catlin, in 1844, published these lectures in a 
 
35 
 
 two-volume work, profusely illustrated, and bearing 
 the highest official testimony to their statements. Ot 
 the scientific lectures, I can make, — for the lack of time 
 and your patience, — but' slight mention. They were 
 not many out of the whole, and were upon Heat, Elec- 
 tricity, Magnetism, Electro-Magnetism, General Phys- 
 ics, Optics, Acoustics, Geology, Astronomy, with spec- 
 ial lectures on Solar and Lunar Eclipses, one of these 
 last ofrowins: out of the fact that the first graduated 
 class of our then English High School, had, in their 
 senior year, (1830), calculated all the total solar 
 eclipses visible in the Uuited States during the nine- 
 teenth century. There was also an entire astronomical 
 course of six lectures, with illustrations, by Prof. Nich- 
 ol, of Scotland. None of this class seem to have been 
 given since 1850, though the discoveries since then, 
 specially in astronomy, acoustics, and the laws and facts 
 of light and sound, have been nothing short of as- 
 tounding, and yet they have not, to our general com- 
 munity hereabouts, been made known to any special 
 particularity. 
 
 I recall, with more readiness of memory, those of 
 Agassiz, on the Animal and Vegetable Kingdoms ; those 
 of Peabody and Webb, already noticed ; and those of 
 our then townsman. Prof. Charles Grafton Page, after- 
 wards Examiner in the General Patent Office at Wash- 
 ington, and deceased within a few years, the intimate 
 and beloved friend and co-worker of that great and 
 greatly beloved man, the late Prof. Henry, of the Smith- 
 sonian Institution. 
 
 The illustrative lectures of Prof. Page, a graduate of 
 our Latin School in 1828, and of Harvard in 1832, 
 on Electricity, Magnetism, Electro-Magnetism, and 
 
36 
 
 their practical applications, may be justly ranked as 
 exceptionally interesting, instructive, and suggestive. 
 Meeting him soon after my own coming hither, in 1819, 
 as teacher meets pupil, our intimacy ceased onl}' with 
 his death, in 1868. In general development and acqui- 
 sition as a scholar, he held higher than the average 
 rank, but the special bent of his mind was always in 
 the direction of scientific subjects, both at school and at 
 college, and he was never content till he had verified 
 scientific deductions by exact experiment. 
 
 His greatest discovery, occurring about the same 
 time here (in United States) with that of the same na- 
 ture with Farraday's in England, yet wholly independ- 
 ent thereof, was that of the wonderful principle in elec- 
 tricity, known as '-Electro-Electric Induction." Out 
 of this discovery grew an instrument which Prof. Page 
 greatly improved by later inventions, and which is now 
 unjustly called the Ruhmkorff Coil. 
 
 Here, with many thanks for your patient indulgence, 
 I relieve you. It was not possible, even with the ap- 
 parent liberal allowance of these one hundred pages of 
 manuscript, to be fully faithful to my subject, or ex- 
 haustively comprehensive in presenting an educational 
 history of fifty years continuance. What has been 
 written may be some material for him who shall be my 
 successor at youF centennial celebration. 
 
 Your Lyceum is a fixed institution, and I commend 
 for its motto, Virgil's beautiful line, 
 
 " Semper honos nomenque tuum, laudesque manebunt." 
 
 '* Honor, renown and lasting praise, 
 Attend thee to thy latest days." 
 
SYLLABUS OF LECTURES. 
 
 FIRST COURSE. 1830. 
 
 Daniel A. White, Salem — Advantages of Knowledge. 
 
 John Brazer, Salem— Authenticity of Ancient Manuscripts. 
 
 Francis Peabody, Salem — Steam Engine. 
 
 Abel L, Peirson, Salem — -Physiology. 
 
 George Choate, Salem — Geology. 
 
 Thomas Spencer, Salem— Optics. 
 
 Charles G. Putnam, Salem — Nervous System. 
 
 Thomas Cole, Salem — Astronomy. 
 
 Stephen C. Phillips read a lecture written by E. Everett — 
 Workingmen's Party. 
 
 Stephen C. Phillips, Salem — Public Education, with a sketch 
 of the origin of public schools in Salem. 
 
 Henry Colman, Salem — Human Mind. 
 
 Joshua B. Flint — Respiration. 
 
 Joshua B. Flint — Circulation of the Blood. 
 
 Joshua B. Flint — -Digestion. 
 
 SECOND COURSE. 1830-31. 
 
 Rufus Babcock, Salem — Power of Mind. 
 
 Alexander H. Everett — A Review of the Continual Progress 
 in Improvement of Mankind. 
 
 Alonzo Potter — Moral Philosophy. 
 
 Malthus A. Ward, Salem — Gardening. 
 
 Leonard Withington — Historical Probability. 
 
 Stephen C. Phillips, Salem— The Influence of the Country 
 and the Age in which we Live, on the Condition of Man, 
 as an Individual, a Member of Society, a Political Agent, and 
 an Intelligent and Moral Being. 
 
 Henry K. Oliver, Salem — Pneumatics. 
 
38 
 
 Abel L. Peirson, Salem — Biography of Dr. Jenoer, and his- 
 tory of vaccination. 
 
 Henry K. Oliver, Salem — Solar Eclipse of 1831. 
 
 George Choate, Salem — Climate and its Influence on Organ- 
 ic Life. 
 
 Charles W. Upham, Salem, (two lectures) — Witchcraft. 
 
 Jonathan Webb, Salem, (two lectures) — ■Electricity. 
 
 Alexander H. Everett, (two lectures) — French Revolution. 
 
 Thomas Spencer, Salem — Optical Instruments. 
 
 Malthus A. Ward, (two lectures) Salem — Natural History. 
 
 Francis Peabody, Salem — Heat. 
 
 Stephen P. Webb, Salem — Russian History. 
 
 Edward Everett — Political Prospects of Europe. 
 
 Benjamin F. Browne, Salem — •Zoology. 
 
 Rufus Choate, Salem — History of Poland. 
 
 THIRD COURSE. 1831-32. 
 
 John Pickering, Salem — Beneficial Effects Resulting from 
 Associations for the Diffusion of Knowledge. 
 
 Caleb Foote, Salem — History of Printing. 
 
 Charles G. Putnam, Salem — Whales and Whaling. 
 
 Abel L. Peirson, Salem — History of the Circulation of the 
 Blood. 
 
 Henry K Oliver, Salem — -Pneumatics. 
 
 Milton P. Braman — Popular Superstitions. 
 ^^ J. D. Fisher — Education of the Blind. 
 
 Wm. Thorudikc — Disadvantages arising from the Multipli- 
 cation of Books. 
 
 Abel L. Peirson, Salem — Advantages arising from the Mul- 
 tiplication of Books. 
 
 Henry K. Oliver, Salem — Aerostation. 
 
 Leverett Saltonstall, Salem — Early History of Massachu- 
 setts. 
 
 Charles W. Upham read a lecture written by E. Everett. 
 
 Dr. Grigg — Physical Education. 
 
 William H. Brooks, Salem — Education of the Five Senses. 
 
39 
 
 Thomas Cole, Salem — Meteorology. 
 
 John Pickering, Salem — Alleged Uucertainty of the Law. 
 
 W. S. Uptou— Law of Wills. 
 
 Henry Colman, Salem — Eloquence. 
 
 Joseph E. Sprague, Salem — Character and Services of Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 John Codman, Salem — Character of Byron. 
 
 J. C. Richmond — Present state of Greece. 
 
 Daniel A. White, Salem, read a lectm-e written by E. Ever- 
 ett. 
 
 John S. Williams, Salem — Reform Bill. 
 
 Leonard Withington — Defects of Female Education. 
 
 Abel L. Peirson, Salem — Spasmodic Cholera. 
 
 Alexander H. Everett — U. S. Constitution. 
 
 FOURTH COURSE. 1832-33. 
 
 Rufus Choate, Salem — Applicability of American Scenes 
 and History to the performances and genius of Sir Walter Scott. 
 
 W. H. Brooks, Salem — Advantages of Commerce, with 
 sketches of its history as connected with Salem. 
 
 William Sullivan — On the Rules of Evidence as Applied to 
 Common Life. 
 
 George S. Eiillard — Comparison of Ancient and Modern 
 Literature. 
 
 Ca'eb Foote, Salem — Value of the Union and Consequences 
 of Disunion. 
 
 James W. Thompson, Salem — Connexion of Literature with 
 Morality. 
 
 R. D. Mussey — Anatomy of the Chest and Spine. 
 
 Samuel Worcester — Indian Eloquence. 
 • James Walker — Phrenology. 
 
 M. S. Perry — Diseases peculiar to the different classes of 
 society. 
 
 Nathaniel West, Jr., Salem — Imprisonment for Debt. 
 
 George H. Devereux, Salem — Feudal Ages. 
 
 Amos D. Wheeler — Geology. 
 
40 
 
 Samuel G. Howe — Educatioa of the Blind. 
 Lowell Mtisou — Scieace of Music. 
 Nehemiah Cleaveland — Poetry. 
 John Fai'rar — Advantages of Knowledge. 
 Joshua H. Ward, Salem — History of Spain. 
 Rufus Babcock, Salem — Moral Nature of Man. 
 
 Thomas Spencer, Salem — History of India. 
 
 William B. Calhoun — Political Economy. 
 
 FIFTH COURSE. 1833-34. 
 
 Edward Everett — Agriculture. 
 
 E. Evans, (four lectures) — Geography, Manners and Cus- 
 toms of various Countries. 
 
 Dr. Barber, (nine lectures) — Phrenology. 
 
 George H. Devereux, Salem — Adaptation of Philosophy to 
 the Wants and Condition of Man. 
 
 David Merritt, Salem — History of the Jews. 
 
 J. V. C. Smith — Mechanism of the Eye. 
 
 Charles G. Page, Salem — Pneumatics. 
 
 Charles G. Page, Salem — Acoustics. 
 
 Charles A. Andrew, Salem. 
 
 Stephen P. Webb, Salem — History of Turkey. 
 
 Lemuel Willis, Salem — Progress of Society. 
 
 SIXTH COURSE. 1834-35. 
 
 Caleb Gushing — Education. 
 
 Alexander H. Everett — English and American Literature. 
 Geoi'ge B. Cheever, Salem — Samuel T. Coleridge. 
 H. McMurtrie, (twelve lectures) — Zoology. 
 Abel L. Peirson, Salem — Qualifications and Duties of a 
 Physician. 
 
 John W. Browne, Salem — Theatre. 
 Charles T. Jackson — Volcanoes. 
 George S. Hillard — Americanism. 
 
41 
 
 SEVENTH COURSE. 1835-36. 
 
 James Flint, Salem — Poem, Change. 
 
 Sylvester Graham — Capabilities of the human frame in re- 
 spect to the duration of life. 
 
 W. B. 0. Peabody — Hebrew Commonwealth. 
 
 Samuel M. Worcester, Salem — James Otis and Patrick 
 Henry. 
 
 B. B. Thatcher— Boston Tea Party. 
 
 O. W. B. Peabody — British Poetry during the latter part of 
 the last century. 
 
 Leonard Withington — Dangers of Republicanism. 
 
 George Putnam — Water. 
 
 Jeremiah Smith — Washington. 
 
 John Appleton — Sir Humphrey Davy. 
 
 William H. Simmons — Education. 
 
 Charles C. Emerson — Socrates. 
 
 Abel L. Peirson, Salem — St. Peter's Cathedral. 
 
 George S. Hillard — Living too fast. 
 
 Jonathan F. Worcester, Salem — China. 
 
 A. M. Quimby — Electricity. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Martin Luther. 
 William Silsbee, Salem — Study of the Beautiful. 
 
 B. B. Thatcher — Philosophy of Self-Education. 
 Henry R. Cleveland — Pompeii. 
 
 Charles G. Page, Salem — Heat. 
 Charles T. Brooks, Salem — Character. 
 
 EIGHTH COURSE. 1836-87. 
 
 Daniel Webster — Popular Knowledge as applied to Scientific 
 Improvements. 
 
 W. B. O. Peabody— Birds. 
 
 Horatio Robinson, Salem. 
 
 Stephen C. Phillips, Salem — South Sea .Expedition. 
 
 Nehemiah Adams, Salem — Uuiversal Empire. 
 
 Charles G. Page, Salem — Electricity. 
 
 Charles G. Page, Salem — Galvanism. 
 
• 42 
 
 Elislia Bartlett — Application of Science to Common Life. 
 
 William M. Rogers — Egyptian Hieroglyphics and their 
 Bearing upon Revelation. 
 
 Samuel M. Worcester, Salem — English Language. 
 
 Charles Gr. Page, Salem — Galvanism. 
 
 David Roberts, Salem — Franklin. 
 
 William H. Brooks, Salem — French Civil Wars of the 16tli 
 Century. 
 
 H. R, Cleveland — Spirit and Institutions of the Middle Ages. 
 
 Charles G. Page, Salem — Electi'o Magnetism. 
 
 0. W. B. Peabody — English Poets of the Present Century 
 
 James W. Thompson, Salem — Sir Walter Raleigh. 
 
 John C. Park — Education for the World. 
 
 Alexander Young — Pequod War. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Philosophy of History. 
 
 Rufus Choate — Literature of the Sea. 
 
 NINTH COURSE. 1837-38. 
 
 Horace Mann — Education. 
 
 George S. Hillard — Books. 
 
 John S. Williams, Salem — Ireland. 
 
 John W. Browne, Salem — War. 
 
 Leonard Withington — " The Light which the Theory of 
 our Government Sheds on the Practice of its Citizens." 
 
 W. B. O. Peabody — Hebrew Commonwealth. 
 
 H. R. Cleveland — The Superstitions of the Classic Ages. 
 
 Jones Very, Salem — Epic Poetry. 
 
 Thomas Spencer, Salem — The Vegetation of Salem and Vi- 
 cinity. 
 
 William M. Rogers — Ross's Expedition to the Polar Seas. 
 
 Samuel M. Worcester, Salem — Irish Eloquence. 
 
 James C. Alvord — The Mutual Relations and Influences of 
 the Various Occupations of Life. 
 
 Oliver Wendell Holmes — English Versification. 
 
 Abel L. Peirson, Salem — Animal Magnetism. 
 
 M. Mariotti — Marie Louise, the Widow of Napoleou. 
 
 William Lincoln — The French Neutrals of Nova Scotia. 
 
43 
 
 James Walker — Transcendentalism. 
 
 An Exhibition by Pupils from the N. E. Institution for the 
 Blind. 
 
 O. '^V. B. Peabody — English Female Writers of the Last 
 Century. 
 
 John P. Cleveland — Ancient History of Michigan. 
 
 George Bancroft — The Capacity of the Human Mind for 
 Culture and Improvement. 
 
 Henry Ware, Jr. — The Poetry of Mathematics. 
 
 John Lewis Russell, Salem — Geology. 
 
 TENTH COURSE. 1838-39.- 
 
 George Catlin, six lectures on the Character, Customs, Cos- 
 tumes, «&:c., of the North American Indians. 
 
 Jared Spai'ks — -Causes of the American Revolution. 
 
 Hubbard Winslow — The Sun. 
 
 C. H. Brewster — The Sources of National Wealth. 
 
 Charles T. Torrey, Salem — Common School Education. 
 
 Ephraim Peabody — The Capacity of the Human Mind fox 
 Culture and Improvement. 
 
 Henry K. Oliver, Salem — The Honey Bee. 
 
 Robert C. Winthrop — Popular Education. 
 
 Professor Adams — Geology. 
 
 Simon Greenleaf — The Legal Rights of Women. 
 
 Henry Ware, Jr. — Instinct. 
 
 •Joshua H. Ward, Salem — Life of Mohammed. 
 
 Henry W. Kinsman — Life and Times of Oliver Cromwell. 
 
 Abel L. Peirson, Salem — Memoirs of Count Rumford. 
 
 Converse Francis — The Practical Man. 
 
 John Lewis Russell, Salem — The Poetry of Natural His- 
 tory, 
 
 John Wayland, Salem — The Progress of Democracy. 
 
 Alexander H. Everett — The Discovery of America by the 
 Northmen. 
 
 Samuel Osgood — The Satanic School of Literature and its 
 Reform. 
 
•44 
 
 Horace Mann — The Education of Children. 
 
 ELEVENTH COURSE. 1839-40. 
 
 The Oratorio of Joseph and His Brethren, by the Boston 
 Musical Institute. 
 
 Orville Dewey — Human Progress. 
 
 Andrew P. Peabody — Influence of the BiSle on the Sciences, ^ 
 Poetry, and the Fine Arts. 
 
 Leonard Withington — Phariseeism. 
 
 Converse Francis — The Huguenots or French Protestants in 
 America. 
 
 George E. Ellis — The Persecution of the Quakers. 
 
 J. S. C. Abbott — Russia. 
 
 John L. Hayes — Volcanic Agency. 
 
 J. Francis Tuckerman, Salem — Life and Genius of Beethoven. 
 
 Oliver Wendell Holmes — National Prejudices. 
 
 J. S. C. Abbot — Louis Philippe. 
 
 B. B. Thatcher read the lecture by Gov. Everett introducto- 
 ry to the course before the "Lowell Institute" of Boston. 
 
 James W. Thompson, Salem — The Conditions of a Health- 
 ful Literature. 
 
 Thomas B. Fox — Education of the Eye. 
 
 Charles Francis Adams — The Influence of Domestic Man- 
 ners on the American Revolution. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Analysis, the Characteristic of the 
 Present Age. 
 
 Henry Ware, Jr. — The Biography of the Globe. 
 
 Henry W. Kinsman. — The Institution of Chivalry and its 
 Influence on Society. 
 
 Edward Hitchcock — The Wonders of Science Compared 
 with the Wonders of Romance. 
 
 John G. Palfrey — The Siege and Capture of Louisburg. 
 
 TWELFTH COURSE. 1840-41. 
 
 John Quincy Adams — Faith. 
 William H. Simmons — Hamlet. 
 
45 
 
 George H. Devereux, Salem — Public Opinion. 
 
 John L. Hayes — Life of Cuvier. 
 
 William H. Simmons — Macbeth. 
 
 Converse Francis — Lessons of the Past. 
 
 William M. Rogers — A Business Life. 
 
 Heman Humphrey — Mental Philosophy. 
 
 Henry K. Oliver, Salem, (two lectures) — The Druids. 
 
 Samuel M. Worcester, Salem — Reasoning. 
 
 James T. Austin — Siege of Boston. 
 
 William G. Swett — Reading. 
 
 Samuel Osgood — State and Prospects of the Jews. 
 
 Andrew P. Peabody — The Poor Man. 
 
 John C. Park — The Law of Marriage. 
 
 Richard H. Dana, Jr. — Importance of Cultivating the Af- 
 fections. 
 
 J. V. C. Smith — Ancient and Modern History of the Coin- 
 age of Metals. 
 
 Ezra S. G-annett — Excitability of the American Character. 
 
 THIRTEENTH COURSE. 1841-42. 
 Henry Giles — Crabbe. 
 G. Tochman — Poland. 
 George E Ellis — Scenery of Switzerland. 
 David H. Barlow — Our Times. 
 
 Henry Giles, (three lectures) — Irish History, Irish Charac- 
 ter, Irish Society. 
 
 Joseph R. Chandler — Cultivation of the Affections as a Means 
 of Happiness. 
 
 Nehemiah Adams — Sketches of Nature and Art in Foreign 
 Travel. 
 
 John Pierpont — Snow. 
 
 Richard H. Dana, Jr. — Macbeth. 
 
 Andrew P. Peabody — Fiction. 
 
 Daniel Kimball — Whale Fisheries. 
 
 Prof. Adam, (two lectures) — Chinese War. 
 
 Henry Giles — Burns. 
 
 John Lord, (three lectures) — Causes of Modern Civilization. 
 
46 
 
 Oliver Wendell Holmes — Homoeopathy. 
 Richard H. Dana, Jr. — Reality of the Sea. 
 
 FOURTEENTH COURSE. 1842-43. 
 John Quincy Adams — Government. 
 William Mitchell, (two lectures) — Astronomy, Comets. 
 Humphrey Moore — March of Mind. 
 George B. Cheever — Gothic Architecture. 
 L. F. Tasistro — Master Spirits of English Poetry. 
 Benjamin Sears — Germany. 
 
 Charles Francis Adams, (two lectures) — Shakspeare. 
 Dr. Fitch — Music as a Fine Art. 
 Henry Giles, (two lectures) — Byron. 
 George Bancroft — Spirit of the Age. 
 Richard H. Dana, Jr. — Woman. 
 
 Jumes E. Murdock — Human Voice, with Illustrations. 
 Edwin Jocelyn, Salem — Spirit of Teaching. 
 Richard H. Dana, Jr. — Desdemona. 
 John C. Park — Character of the Pilgrims. 
 George H. Colton — American Indians. 
 James E. Murdock — The Passions. 
 Henry Giles — Elliott, the Corn Law Rhymer. 
 
 FIFTEENTH COURSE. 1843-44. 
 
 Henry Giles — Life and Writings of Oliver Goldsmith. 
 
 Orestes A. Brownson — Dangers of our Present Form of 
 Government. 
 
 Gideon F. Barstow, Salem — Poetry and Song. 
 
 W. B. O. Peabody — Anglo-Saxon Race. 
 
 Ephr lim Peabody — Progress of Physical Science since land- 
 ing of the Pilgrims. 
 
 Warren Burton, Salem — Scenery. 
 
 Alonzo Gray, (two lectures) — The Chemical Forces ; Oxy- 
 gen, its Agency and Uses. 
 
 Henry Giles, (two lectures) — Falstaif ; O'Connell, the Irish 
 Agitator. 
 
 George Putnam — What is Light. 
 
47 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — The New England Man. 
 
 Alfred A. Abbott — Shelley the Poet. 
 
 Charles Francis Adams — Milton. 
 
 George E. Ellis — What is Known and what is Unknown in 
 the World. 
 
 Jonathan F. Stearns — Advantages of a Liberal Education. 
 
 W^endell Phillips — The Lost Arts. 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — The Leading Poets, as Wordsworth, 
 Byron, Shelley, &c. 
 
 Henry W. Bellows — False Education. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Want of Distinctive National Char- 
 acter. 
 
 Thomas P. Field — Past Prose Writers. 
 
 SIXTEENTH COURSE. 1844-45. 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — Literature of Impudence. 
 
 David P. Page — Injustice of History to the Common People. 
 
 Jason Whitman — The American Citizenship, Responsibili- 
 ties, &c. 
 
 Alonzo Gray — Aqueous Causes of Change. 
 
 Wendell Phillips — Influence of Commerce on Personal Free- 
 dom. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — The Genius of the New Englander. 
 
 John G. Palfrey — History of Massachusetts Colony. 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — Novel and Novelists, (Dickens) and a 
 Poem. 
 
 Theodore Parker — Signs of the Times. 
 
 Henry W. Bellows — The Pursuit of Truth. 
 
 Andrew P. Peabody — The Importance of a Fixed Profession. 
 
 Ezra S. Gannett — American Life. 
 
 George E. Ellis — Rome. 
 
 Theodore Parker— Roman Slavery. 
 
 Caleb Stetson — -The Useful and Beautiful. 
 
 Orestes A. Brownson — Social Reform. 
 
 Gideon F. Barstow, Salem — Beranger. 
 
 Robert Baird — Characters of the Reigning Sovereigns of 
 Europe. 
 
48 
 
 Samuel M. Worcester, Salem — The Maccabees. 
 Mrs. Henry Lemon, Salem — Concert. 
 
 SEVENTEENTH COURSE, 1845-46. 
 
 H. N. Hudson — King Lear, (Shakspeare). 
 
 William H. Chanuing — The College, the Church, and the 
 State. 
 
 E. Darling — Chemistry, including Solidification of Carbonic 
 Acid Gas. 
 
 W. B. Sprague — Life of Wilb'erforce. 
 
 Stephen Pearl Andrews — Phonography. 
 
 George H. Devereux, Salem — Man. 
 
 Charles T. Brooks — Omnipresence of the Poetic. 
 
 James T. Fields — Books. 
 
 A. F. Boyle — Phonography. 
 
 Caleb Stetson — Individuality of Man. 
 
 Lieut. Halleck — The Battle of Waterloo. 
 
 Amory Holbrook, Salem. — Galileo. 
 
 Samuel Osgood — Rousseau. 
 
 Charles B. Haddock — Cultivation of a Taste for Letters by 
 Men of Business. 
 
 Fletcher Webster, (two lectures) — China. 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — Wit and Humor. 
 
 Theodore Parker — The Progress of Man. 
 
 Asa Gray, (two lectures) — Geographical Botany. 
 
 Thomas D. Anderson — Reverence for our Government and 
 Laws. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Napoleon Bonaparte. 
 
 EIGHTEENTH COURSE. 1846-47. 
 
 Joseph R. Ingersoll — Development. 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — Ludicrous Side of Life. 
 
 John S. Dwight — Music. 
 
 Thomas Hill — Teachings of Outward Nature. 
 
 David H Barlow — Swedenborg. 
 
 H. N. Hudson — Desdemona and the Moor. 
 
49 
 
 Thomas T. Stone, Salem — George Fox. 
 
 Jared Sparks — American Revolution. 
 
 Lorenzo Sabine, (three lectures) — American Loyalists. 
 
 Mark Hopkins — Voluntary and Involuntary Powers of Man. 
 
 Brown Emerson, Salem — Tour in England. 
 
 C. B. Haddock— Novels. 
 
 Samuel Johnson, Jr., Salem — Poor of England. 
 
 Washington Very, Salem — The Jesuits. 
 
 Anson Burlingame — Mexico. 
 
 Samuel Elliott — American Liberty. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Eloquence. 
 
 Charles Sumner — Algerine Slavery. 
 
 Anson Burlingame — Mexico. 
 
 Tremont Vocalists — Concert. 
 
 NINETEENTH COURSE. 1847-48 
 Ephraim Peabody — Religious Tendencies of Modern Science. 
 Peleg W. Chandler — The Truly Practical Man. 
 Epes Sargent — Toleration. 
 Fletcher Webster — India. 
 J. P. Nichol (two lectures) — Astronomy. 
 Henry B. Smith — Art. 
 Alonzo Potter — The Divine Existence. 
 J. P. Nichol, (two lectures) — Astronomy. 
 Mark Hopkins — Language. 
 J. P. Nichol, (two lectures) — Astronomy. 
 Octavius B. Frothingham, Salem — Bishop Berkley. 
 William Hincks — Fruits. 
 Orin Fowler — Cotton Manufactures. 
 George R. Crockett — Tyranny of Public Opinion. 
 George H. Devereux, Salem — The Forests of Maine. 
 Louis Agassiz, (four lectures) — The Animal Creation. 
 Louis Agassiz, (two lectures) — 'The Glaciers. 
 
 TWENTIETH COURSE. 1848-49. 
 Daniel Webster — History of the Constitution of the United 
 States ; and 
 
 7 
 
•50 
 
 James T. Fields— A Poem, "Post of Honor." 
 
 Henry D. Thoreau — Student Life in New England, its 
 Economy. 
 
 Henry Colman — Philanthropie Institutions of England. 
 
 John S. Holmes — Self-Possession. 
 
 Louis Agassiz, (three lectures) — Vegetable Kingdom. 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — Genius. 
 
 Theodore Parker — Transcendentalism. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — England and the English. 
 
 Chai'les Sumner — Law of Progress. 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — Authors. 
 
 Samuel Osgood — Poetry of Mechanism. 
 
 Henry Colman — A Conversation about England. 
 
 Henry Giles — Don Quixote, Woman. 
 
 Henry D. Thoreau — Student Life, its Aims and Employ- 
 ments. 
 
 Henry Giles — European Revolutions. 
 
 Henry Giles — Don Quixote, Human Life. 
 
 Horace Mann, (two lectui-es) — Knowledge. 
 
 TWENTY-FIRST COURSK. 1849-50. 
 
 Milton P. Braman — Advantages of Popular Suffrage. 
 
 Russell Lant Carpenter — Iceland. 
 
 Horace Mann — Thoughts for Young Men. 
 
 Sylvester Judd, Jr. — Dramatic Element in the Bible. 
 
 K. L. Magoun — Patriotism of Paul. 
 
 Alonzo Potter — Spirit of the Age. 
 
 Leonard Withington — Evils of Modern Civilization. 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — Character. 
 
 Andrew P. Peabody — Moral and Material Worlds. 
 
 George H. Devereux, Salem — Progress of Mankind. 
 
 Wendell Phillips — Method of Reform. 
 
 George VandenhofF — Readings from the Poets. 
 
 R. C. Waterson — Art and Art Unions. 
 
 Frances Anne Kemble — "Midsummer Night's Dream.' 
 
 Thomas Starr King — Thought and Life. 
 
51 
 
 Theodore Parker — Educated Classes. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Traits of the Times. 
 
 George Vandenhoff — Readings from Shakespeare. 
 
 TWENTY-SECOND COURSE. 1850-51. 
 
 G. P. R. James — Early History of the Anglo Saxons. 
 
 James M. Hoppin, Salem — Egyptian, Grecian and Roman 
 Architecture. 
 
 Thomas Wentworth Higginson — Man and Nature. 
 
 George Vandenhoff — Readings from Sheridan. 
 
 J. D. Butler — St. Peter's Church in Rome. 
 
 Israel E. Dwinell, Salem — Intensity a Characteristic of 
 Modern Civilization. 
 
 J. W. Taverner — Hood and Ingoldsby, with Readings. 
 
 Theodore Parker — The False and True Idea of the Gentle- 
 man. 
 
 Thomas Starr King — Socrates. 
 
 Sylvester Judd, Jr. — Origin of Human Language. 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — The American Mind. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — The Law of Success. 
 
 George Shepard — Reading. 
 
 Leonard Woods — Democracies of Greece and Rome. 
 
 George Thompson — Reforms in England. 
 
 O. M. Mitchell — Astronomy. 
 
 Caleb Gushing — India. 
 
 Edwin H. Chapin — The Actual and Real. 
 
 TWENTY-THIRD COURSE. 1851-52. 
 
 FIRST SERIES. 
 
 Germania Musical Society — Concert. 
 
 H. N. Hudson— Falstaff. 
 
 Thomas Wentworth Higginson — Mahommed. 
 
 John Neal — Pilgrim Fathers. 
 
 W. P. Atkinson — Chaucer. 
 
 Sylvester Judd, Jr. — Use of the Beautiful, 
 
.52 
 
 J. W. Taverner — Readings from Shakespeare. 
 Ezra S. Gannett — New England and her Institutions. 
 George W. Briggs, Salem — Geoi'ge Fox. 
 Charles E. Norton — Life in India as seen at Madras. 
 A. L. Stone — Kossuth. 
 Edwin P. Whipple— The English Mind. 
 H. F. Harrington — Principle of Immortality. 
 George Shepard — Dean Swift. 
 James M. Hoppin, Salem — Sketches in Germany. 
 J. V. C. Smith — Palestine. 
 
 Calvin E. Stowe — The West before the Introduction of 
 Steam. 
 
 Thomas Starr King — Substance and Show. 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Economy. 
 
 SRCOND SERIES. 
 
 Germania Musical Society — Concert. 
 H. N. Hudson — The Baconian Method. 
 Thomas Wentworth Higgiuson — Mahommed. 
 John Neal — Law and Lawyers. 
 W. P. Atkinson — Plea for Poverty. 
 Sylvester Judd, Jr. — Use of the Beautiful. 
 J. W. Taverner — Readings from Shakespeare. 
 Ezra S. Gannett — New England and her Institutions. 
 George W. Briggs, Salem — George F'ox. 
 Charles E. Norton — Life in India as seen at Madras. 
 A. L. Stone — Kossuth. 
 Edwin P. Whipple— The English Mind. 
 H. F. Harrington — Presence and Absence of Mind. 
 George :Shepard — Charles James Fox. 
 James M. Hoppin, Salem — German Music. 
 J. V. C. Smith — -Palestine. 
 
 Calvin E. Stowe — The West before the Introduction of 
 Steam 
 
 Thomas Starr King — Substance and Show. 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Fate. 
 
53 
 
 TWENTY-FOURTH COURSE. 1852-53. 
 
 FIRST SERIES. 
 
 ^ Grermania Musical Society — Concert. 
 
 Horace Mann, (two lectures) — Woman. 
 
 John A. Dix — Political and Social Development. 
 
 Thomas Starr King — Mountains and their Uses. 
 
 Eleazer Lord — Improvement of Society. 
 
 Charles H. Davis — Astronomical Prediction. 
 
 A. A. Miner — Music and Morals. 
 
 John L. Russell, Salem — Love of the Beautiful and its Cul- 
 ture. 
 
 Oliver Wendell Holmes — Lyceums and Lyceum Lecturers. 
 
 Alfred Bunn — Anecdotes of the Stage. 
 
 Thomas Chase — Early English Literature. 
 
 George Shepard — Demosthenes. 
 
 James T. Fields. , 
 
 Richard H. Dana, Jr. — Edmund Burke. 
 
 J. C. Bodwell. 
 
 Samuel K. Lothrop — Have we a Bourbon amongst us ? 
 
 Dexter Clapp, Salem. 
 
 SECOND SERIES. 
 
 An exact repetition of the above. 
 
 TWENTY-FIFTH COURSE. 1853-54. 
 
 Mendelssohn Quintette Club — Concert. 
 George Sumner — France. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — American Character. 
 George B. Cheever — Reading with reference to Mental Cul- 
 ture. 
 
 W. H. Hurlbut — Cuba and the Cubans. 
 
 William R. Alger — Peter the Great. 
 
 John P. Hale — Last Gladiatorial Exhibition at Rome. 
 
 Octavius B. Frothingham, Salem — Europe. 
 
 Thomas Starr King — Property. 
 
 George W. Curtis — Young America. 
 
54 
 
 Henry Ward Beecher — Ministrations of the Beautiful. 
 Theodore Parker — The Function of the Beautiful in Hu- 
 man Development. • 
 Bayard Taylor — The Arabs. 
 Henry W. Bellows — New England Festivals. 
 Anson Burlingame — The Valley of the Mississippi. 
 D. A. Wasson — Independence of Character. 
 Prof. Guyot — Distribution of the Races. 
 Wendell Phillips— The Lost Arts. 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH COURSE. 1854-55. 
 
 FIRST SERIES. 
 
 Germania Serenade Band — Concert. 
 
 Joseph P. Thompson — Constantinople. 
 
 Josiah Quincy, Jr. — Sectional Prejudices. 
 
 Thomas W. Higginson — The Old Puritan Clergyman. 
 
 Reignold Solger — The present state of the Eastern Ques- 
 tion. 
 
 Thomas Russell — Influence of Character on National Des- 
 tiny. 
 
 George F. Simmons — The Eastern War. 
 
 W. H. Hurlbut— The Middle Ages. 
 
 Charles L. Brace — The Principalities of Europe. 
 
 Henry Ward Beecher — Patriotism. 
 
 Thomas T. Stone, Salem — 'Rise and Fall of the Roman Em- 
 pire. 
 
 John Pierpont — Education. 
 
 Theodore Parker — The Anglo Saxon. 
 
 George W. Curtis — Success. \ 
 
 George R. Russell — The Politician. 
 
 W. H. Ryder — Ancient and Modern Civilization. 
 
 R. C. Waterson — Switzerland. 
 
 James Russell Lowell — Edmund Spenser. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Fruits of English Civilization. 
 
 Richard H. Dana, Jr. — Sources of Influence. 
 
55 
 
 SECOND SERIES. 
 
 Germania Serenade Band — Concert. 
 Joseph P. Thompson — Jerusalem and Damascus. 
 Josiah Quincy, Jr. — Sectional Prejudices. 
 Thomas W. Higginson — The Old Puritan Clergyman. 
 Louis Agassiz — The Animal Kingdom. 
 
 Reio-uold Solger — The present state of the Eastern Question. 
 George F. Simmons — The Eastern War. 
 W. H. Hurlbut— The Middle Ages. 
 Charles L. Brace — Ragged Schools. 
 Henry Ward Beecher — Patriotism. 
 Thomas T. Stone, Salem — Peasants' War in Germany. 
 John Pierpont — Moral Influence of Physical Science. 
 Theodore Parker — The Condition, Character and Prospects 
 of America. 
 
 George W. Curtis — Success. 
 
 George R. Russell — The Politician. 
 
 W. H. Ryder — Ancient and Modern Civilization. 
 
 R. C. Waterson — Switzerland. 
 
 James Russell Lowell — Analysis of Poetry. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — French Character. 
 
 Richard H. Dana, Jr. — Sources of Influence. 
 
 TWENTY-SEVENTH COURSE. 1855-56. 
 
 FIRST SERIES. 
 
 Quartette Club — Concert. 
 John P. Hale — Trial by Jury. 
 
 Mark Trafton — Relation of the Moral to the Intellectual 
 Nature. 
 
 James Freeman Clarke — Public Speaking. 
 
 J. C. Richmond — War in the East. 
 
 Samuel J. May — Magna Charta of New York. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Beauty. 
 
 Octavius B. Frothingham, Salem — Carlo Borromeo. 
 
 Reio-nold Solger — Woman and her Home. 
 
56 
 
 Theodore Parker — Relatiou of Productive Industry to Social 
 Progress. 
 
 Park Benjamin — Age of Gold — a Poem. 
 
 G. Gajani — Pius IX. and his flight from Rome. 
 
 Wyzemau Marshall — Dramatic Readings. 
 
 F. D. Huntington — Common Sense. 
 
 William Elder — Relation of Government to Labor. 
 Ezra S. Gannett — Individuality. 
 
 SECOND SERIES. 
 
 Quartette Club — Concert. 
 John P. Hale — Trial by Jury. 
 
 Mark Trafton — Relation of the Moral to the Intellectual 
 Nature. 
 
 E. H. Sears — Genius, 
 
 J. C. Richmond — War in the East. 
 Samuel J. May — Magna Charta of 'New York. 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Beauty. 
 Octavius B. Frothingham, Salem — Carlo Borromeo. 
 Reignold Solger — Woman and her Home. 
 Theodore Parker — Relation of Productive Industry to Social 
 Progress. 
 
 Park Benjamin — Age of Gold — a Poem. 
 
 G. Gajani — Pius IX. and his flight from Rome. 
 Wyzeman Marshall — Dramatic Readings. 
 
 F. D. Huntington — Common Sense. 
 William Elder — Studies in Mental Philosophy. 
 Ezra S. Gannett — Individuality. 
 
 TWENTY-EIGHTH COURSE. 1856-57. 
 
 W. B. Rogers, (three lectures) — Geology. 
 
 Edwin H. Chapin — Modern Chivalry. 
 
 Samuel J. May — The formula of Social Progress. 
 
 J. G. Hoyt — Popular Fallacies. 
 
 Moncure D. Conway — Man and his Speech. 
 
 William Elder — Natural History of Civilization. 
 
57 
 
 Reignold Solger — The Protestant Character. 
 E. H. Sears— The Age of Shams. 
 
 Octavius B. Frothingham — Epicurus the Philosopher of the 
 World. 
 
 Theodore Parker — Benjamin Franklin. 
 
 Isaac I. Hayes —Greenland and the Greenlanders. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Kmerson — Works and Days. 
 
 W. B. Hayden — Dignity of Employment. 
 
 James Russell Lowell — Dante. 
 
 Mendelssohn Quintette Club — Concert. 
 
 TWENTY-IS INTH COURSE. 1857-58. 
 
 Gilmore's Salem Baud — Concert. 
 
 Henry W. Bellows — Unities of Modes of Education. 
 
 G. B. Fontana — King Bomba, or the Sicilian Revolution in 
 1848. 
 
 E. G. Parker — The American Culture of a Love of Read- 
 ing. 
 
 J. G. Hoyt — Popular Education. 
 
 James Freeman Clarke — The Yankee. 
 
 Wendell Phillips — Toussaint L'Ouverture. 
 
 William R. Alger — Life as a Fine Art. ^ 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — Joan of Arc. 
 
 E. H. Sears — The Anglo Saxon Element iu American Civ- 
 ilization. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — The Finer Relations of Man to Na- 
 ture. 
 
 George B. Cheever — Conscience of the People the Basis of 
 Law. 
 
 Theodore Parker — Opportunities of America for aiding Hu- 
 man Progress. 
 
 Stephen P. Webb, Salem — The Vigilance Committee of San 
 Francisco. 
 
 J. P. Fletcher— Brazil. 
 
 Frederic H. Hedge — Private Life in the Dark Ages. 
 
 8 
 
58 
 
 THIRTIETH COURSE. 1858-50. 
 
 Henry Ward Beecher — The Law of Sympatliy aud Kepul- 
 sion, as applied to Commou Life. 
 
 John Todd — Three Experiments of Free Government. 
 
 James Freeman Chirke — Woman. 
 
 George Sumner — European Schools. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — The Conduct of Life. 
 
 William R. Alger — Similitudes of Human Life. 
 
 Octavius B. Frothingham — The Conservative. 
 
 Thomas M. Clark — Public Opinion. 
 
 Charles A. Phelps — William Pitt. 
 
 Frank P. Blair, Jr. — Destiny of R;ices on the American 
 Continent. 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — Shakespeare's Method of Characteriza- 
 tion. 
 
 Edwin H. Chapin — Social Forces. 
 
 W, W. Silvester — Readings. 
 
 THIRTY-FIRST COURSE. 185fl-(50. 
 
 George Sumner — Lessons from Spain. 
 
 Mrs. Sara J. Lippincott — The Heroic in Common Life. 
 
 W. W. Silvester — Readings. 
 
 Carl Schurz — French Revolution of 1848. 
 
 Thomas M, Clark. 
 
 W. A. Norton — The Comet of 1858. 
 
 Albert G. Browne, Jr., Salem — Utah and the Mormons, 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Manners. 
 
 Henry Ward Beecher — The Head and the Heart. 
 
 Thomas W. Higginson — Physical Education. 
 
 Andrew L. Stone — At Home and Abroad, 
 
 Wendell Phillips — -Law and Lawyers. 
 
 THIRTY-SECOND COURSE. 18 0-61, 
 Henry Ward Beecher — Young America, 
 Charles Sumner — Lafayette. 
 Thomas W, Higginson — American Aristocracy. 
 
59 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Clubs. 
 George W. Curtis — Policy of Honesty. 
 Edwin H. Chapin — Man and his Work. 
 Edwin P. Whipple — Grit. 
 
 Joseph P. Thompson — Tribes of Lebanon and the Druse 
 War. 
 
 Henry Giles — Temper. 
 
 E. L. Youmans — Chemistry of the Sunbeam. 
 James M. Hoppin, Salem — Visit to England. 
 Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Davenport — Select Readings. 
 
 THIRTY-THIRD COURSE. 1861-62. 
 Charles Sumner — The Rebellion. 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Old Age. 
 
 Charles F. Brown (Artemus Ward) — The Children in the 
 Wood. 
 
 Henry \Vard Beecher — The Camp and the Country. 
 
 Jacob M. Manning. 
 
 Samuel Johnson, Salem — Florence. 
 
 John B. Gough — London. 
 
 Edward L. Youmans — Man and the Universe. 
 
 Edward L. Youmans — Ancient and Modern Science. 
 
 Wendell Phillips — The Times. 
 
 George H. Hepworth — The Reformer. 
 
 Edwin H. Chapin — Elements of National Life. 
 
 THIRTY-FOURTH COURSE. 1862-63, 
 John B. Gough — Here and There in Britain. 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Perpetual Forces. 
 Wendell Phillips— The Present War. 
 Theodore Tilton — State of the Country. 
 George W. Curtis — Thackeray. 
 
 Moncure D. Conway — A Leaf from the History of To-da^. 
 Henry Ward Beecher — What shall be done with New Eng 
 land. 
 
 Henry Giles — The Complications of War. 
 Mendelssohn Quintette Club — Concert, 
 
60 
 
 James Freeman Clarke. 
 
 S. R. Calthrop — England and America. 
 
 Samuel Johnson, Salem — The War and Slavery. 
 
 THIRTY-FIFTH COURSE. 1863-64. 
 
 John B. Gough — Peculiar People. 
 
 Charles C. Coffin — Battle Scenes. 
 
 Oliver Wendell Holmes — Weaning of Young America. 
 
 George W. Curtis — The Way to Peace. 
 
 William Everett — University of Cambridge, England. 
 
 R. S. Matthews — The Union. 
 
 Theodore Tilton — State of the Country. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — The True American Idea. 
 
 Wendell Phillips — National Reconstruction. 
 
 Jacob M. Manning — Republican Manhood. 
 
 Andrew L. Stone — Campaign Life. 
 
 George H. Hepworth — American Patriotism. 
 
 THIRTY-SIXTH COURSE. 1864-65. 
 
 John B. Gough — Fact and Fiction. 
 
 Theodore D. Weld — John C. Calhoun. 
 
 Oliver Wendell Holmes — New England's Master Key. 
 
 George W. Curtis — Political Infidelity. 
 
 George W. Briggs, Salem — True Statesmanship. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Social Aims. 
 
 Wendell Phillips— The Times. 
 
 Frederic Douglass — Equal Rights for the Freedmen. 
 
 George Thompson — The Amendments to the Constitution. 
 
 George B. Loring, Salem — The New Era of the Nation. 
 
 Charles G. Ames — The American Experiment. 
 
 Thomas W. Higginson — The Freedmen of Port Royal. 
 
 THIRTY-SEVENTH COURSE. 1865-66. 
 
 Frederic Douglass — The Assassination and its Lessons. 
 Alonzo H. Quint — Recollections of the Campaign in Vir- 
 ginia. 
 
61 
 
 Edward S. Atwood, Salem — Words. 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Social Forces. 
 Oliver Wendell Holmes — Poetry of the War. 
 Thomas W. Higginson — America, Greece and China. 
 Paul A. Chadbourne — Iceland and the Icelanders. 
 Wendell Phillips— Politics of the Day. 
 Richard H. Dana, Jr. — American Loyalty. 
 .Jacob M. Manning — Reconstruction. 
 
 THIRTY-EIGHTH COURSE. 1866-67, 
 
 Clara Barton — Work and Incidents of Army Life. 
 
 James W. Patterson — Revolutions the Steps of Progress. 
 
 Frederic Douglass — On Some Dangers to the Republic. 
 
 James C. Fletcher — Two Thousand Miles up the Amazon. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson. 
 
 Charles C. Shackford. 
 
 Mrs. F. E. W. Harper — Our National Salvation. 
 
 Jacob M. Manning — Samuel Adams. 
 
 George W. Briggs, Salem — Frederic W. Robertson. 
 
 Edward S. Morse, Salem — Modes of Locomotion in Animals. 
 
 THIRTY-NINTH COURSE. 1867-68. 
 
 Wyzeman Marshall — Macbeth, with Readings. 
 
 Jacob M. Manning — The Coronation of Labor. 
 
 Frederic Douglass — Self Made Men. 
 
 Theodore Tilton — The American Woman. 
 
 George B. Loring, Salem — Colleges jind College Men. 
 
 Edwin P. Whipple — Loafing and Laboring. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Eloquence. 
 
 Wyzeman Marshall — Hamlet, with Readings. 
 
 Adin B. Underwood — Narrative of Campaign Life. 
 
 Edward S. Morse, Salem — Social Status of Man. , 
 
 FORTIETH COURSE. 1868-69. 
 
 Wendell Phillips— Daniel O'Connell. 
 Frederic Douglass — William the Silent. 
 
•62 
 
 Jacob M. Manning — Old John Brown. 
 
 Theodore Tilton. 
 
 Wyzeman Marshall and Miss Lucette Webster — Readings. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Brook Farm. 
 
 Edward S. Atwood, Salem — Across the Sea. 
 
 Edward S. Morse, Salem — Art of Illustration. 
 
 Henry W. Foote — Notes of Travel in Europe. 
 
 George B. Loring, Salem — Jeiferson and Lincoln. 
 
 FORTY-FIRST COURSE. 1869-70. 
 
 H. C. Barnabee and a Double Quartette — Concert. 
 Theodore Tilton — True Statesmanship. 
 Mary A. Livermoi-e — Various Reforms. 
 Frederic Douglass — Our Composite Nationality. 
 Russell H. Conwell — No Kingdom in North America. 
 Wyzeman Marshall and Miss Lucette Webster — Select Read- 
 ings. 
 
 James Freeman Clarke — What for? 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Courage. 
 
 FORTY-SECOND COURSE. 1870-71. 
 
 Mary A Livermore — Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 George A. Marden — Hash, a Metrical Essay. 
 
 Russell H. Conwell — China and the Chinese. 
 
 Gilbert Haven. 
 
 J. J. Pinkerton — Sir Philip Sidney. 
 
 Wyzeman Marshall and Miss Lucette Webster — Select Read- 
 ings. 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson — Hospitality. 
 
 Edward S. Atwood, Salem — Mary, Queen of Scots. 
 
 George B. Loring, Salem — Distinguished Men of Essex 
 County. 
 
 FORTY-THIRD COURSE. 1871-72. 
 
 Temple Quartette — Concert. 
 
 Russell H. Conwell — Lessons of Travel. 
 
63 
 
 Edward E. Hale — Diary of Mr. and Mrs. Boothby. 
 Robert K. Potter — The Adirondac^s. 
 Edwin C. BoUes, Salem — Development of Physical Life. 
 Gilbert Havea — Yesterday and To-morrow. 
 Wyzeman Marshall and Miss Lucette Webster — Select Read- 
 ings. 
 
 William H. H. Murray — What I know about Deacons. 
 
 FORTY-FOURTH COURSE. 1872-73, 
 
 Wyzeman Marshall and Miss Lucette Webster — Select Read- 
 ings. 
 
 Russell H. Conwell — Heroes and Heroines. 
 
 Thomas Wentworth Higginsou — What I saw in London. 
 
 Edward S. Morse, Salem — Development by Natural Selec- 
 tion. 
 
 Warren H. Cudworth — Uj) Hill and Down. 
 
 John P. Putnam — Passion Play at Oberammergau. 
 
 William H. H. Murray — My Creed. 
 
 Charles S. Osgood, Salem — Two Expeditions through the 
 Maine Woods. 
 
 Carroll D. Wright — Sheridan's Campaign. 
 
 FORTY-FIFTH COURSE. 1873-74. 
 
 William H. H. Murray — Temperance. 
 Warren H. Cudworth — What's What. 
 Russell H. Conwell — A Day in a Lawyei-'s Office. 
 James Freeman Clarke — Equilibrium ; or how to balance 
 oneself.. 
 
 Elias Nason. 
 
 Edward E. Hale — Read a story entitled "In His Name^' 
 
 Abby Sage Richardson — Readings. 
 
 Wayland Hoy t— Hints towards a Noble Life. 
 
 FORTY-SIXTH COURSE. 1874-75. 
 
 Wyzeman Marshall and Miss Lucette Webster — Readings 
 Warren H. Cudworth — "In the Dark." 
 
.64 
 
 George B. Loring, Salem — Advancement of Science. 
 H. M. Gallaher — Put Money in Thy Purse. 
 S. Lewis B. Speare — Behind Prison Bars. 
 James Freeman Clarke — Dramatic and Lyric Element in 
 Literature and Art. 
 Wayland Hoyt — How to Better Things. 
 W. S. Clark— Vegetable Growth. 
 William H. H. Murray — Poverty. 
 
 FORTY-SEVENTH COURSE. 1875-76. 
 
 Wendell Phillips — The American Indian. 
 Warren H. Cudworth — "Success." 
 James Freeman Clarke — Imagination. 
 Sidney Woolett — Readings. 
 L. H. Angier — Enthusiasm. 
 H. M. Gallaher — After Clouds, Fair Weather. 
 George B. Ford — Readings. 
 ' Lennon Quartette — Concert. 
 
 FORTY-EIGHTH COURSE. 1876-77. 
 
 Wendell Phillips — Meaning of the Presidential Election. 
 
 Abby Sage Richardson — Readings. 
 
 Thomas Wentworth Higginson — How to study History. 
 
 J. F. Lovering — The Minute Man and the Volunteer. 
 
 Abba Goold Woolson — The Yosemite Valley. 
 
 James Freeman Clarke — Kentucky. 
 
 Joseph Cook — Ultimate America. 
 
 George B. Ford — Readings. 
 
 FORTY-NINTH COURSE. 1877-78. 
 
 Boston Swedish Quartette — Concert. 
 
 William E. Eastty — Readings. 
 
 Edward S. Morse, Salem — Japan. 
 
 Charles G. Ames — Good Society. 
 
 Abba Goold Woolson — Respectable People. 
 
 Helen Potter — Readings and Personations. 
 
65 
 
 George B. Ford — Readings. 
 Wendell Phillips — Charles Sumner. 
 
 FIFTIETH COURSE. 1878-79. 
 
 George B. Loring and Henry K. Oliver — The Lyceum of 
 the Past. 
 
 William Parsons — Michael Angelo 
 Laura F. Dainty — Readings. j. 
 
 Helen Potter — Readings and Personations. 
 A. A. Willits — Sunshine. 
 William E. Eastty — Readings. 
 Wendell Phillips — Sir Harry Vane. 
 John Goldberg — Mind Reading, etc. 
 
LIST OF OFFICERS. 
 
 Daniel A. White, 
 Stephen C. Phillips, 
 Charles W. Upham, 
 Abel L. Peirson, 
 Henry K. Oliver, 
 John Wayland, 
 Stephen P. Webb, 
 Charles A. Andrew, 
 James W. Thompson, 
 
 PRESIDENTS. 
 
 1830-33. Edward A. Holyoke, 1845-46. 
 
 1833-35 George Wheatland, 1846-48. 
 
 1835-38. Stephen P. Webb, 1848-51. 
 
 1838-39. Oliver Carlton, 1851-52. 
 
 1839-40. George Wheatland, 1852-54. 
 
 1840-41. O. B. Frothiugham, 1854-55. 
 
 1841-42. Richard Edwards, 1855-56. 
 
 1842-43. George W. Briggs, l«56-67. 
 
 1843-45. George B. Loring, 1867- 
 
 VICE PRESIDENTS. 
 
 Stephen C. Phillips, 
 Charles W. Upham, 
 Abel L. Peirson, 
 Henry K. Oliver, 
 John Wayland, 
 Joseph G. Sprague, 
 Caleb Foote, 
 Jas. W. Thompson, 
 Edward A. Holyoke, 
 
 1830-33. George Wheatland, 1845-46. 
 
 1833-35. Sfepheu A Chase, 1846-48. 
 
 1835-38. Benjamin Barstow, 1848-51. 
 
 1838-39. Stephen Osborne, 1851-53. 
 
 1839-40. O. B. Frothingham, 1853-54. 
 
 1840-41. Richard Edwards, 1854-55. 
 
 1841-42. George Andrews, 1855-63. 
 
 1842-43. Albert G. Browne, 1863-67. 
 
 1843-45. James Kimball, 1867- 
 
 CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES. 
 
 Charles W. Upham, 1830-33. Richard P. Waters, 1847-48. 
 
 Charles Lawrence, 1833-35. George F. Chever, 1848-49. 
 
 William H. Brooks, 1835-38. ,Nath'l Hawthorne, 1849-50. 
 
 ■ Jona. F. Worcester, 1838-40. Gilbert L. Streeter, 1850-54. 
 
 Oliver Carlton, 1840-41. Henry J. Cross, 1854-70. 
 
 Nathaniel B. Perkins, 1841-45, Charles S. Osgood, 1870- 
 Rufus Putnam, 1845-47. 
 
67 
 
 RECORDING SECRETARIES. 
 
 Stephen P. Webb, Jan. 1830 
 
 to Apr. 1830. 
 
 Benjamin Tucker, 1830-32. 
 
 William H. Chase, 1832-34. 
 
 S. W. Stickney, 1834-38. 
 
 Joseph G. Sprague, 1838-39. 
 
 Henry Wheatknd, 1839-41. 
 
 Luther Upton, 1841-43. 
 George D. Phippen, 1843-46. 
 
 Henry M. Brooks, 1846-47. 
 
 Amory Holbrook, 1847-48. 
 
 Joseph B. F. Osgood, 1848-50. 
 
 George F. Choate, 1850-52. 
 
 Sidney C. Bancroft, 1852-53. 
 
 George Andrews, 1853-54. 
 
 Joseph M. Newhall, 1854-61. 
 
 Henry J. Cross, 1861-73. 
 
 Charles S. Osgood, 1873- 
 
 Francis Peabody, 
 Henry Whipple, 
 
 TREASURERS. 
 
 1830-32. Stephen B. Ives, 1848-54. 
 
 1832-48. Gilbert L. Streeter, 1854- 
 
 MANAGERS. 
 
 Leverett Saltonstall, 1830-31. 
 George Choate, 1830-31. 
 William Williams, 1830-30. 
 Rufus Babcock, 1830-33. 
 Malthus A. Ward, 1830-30. 
 Abel L. Peirson, 1830, 33-34. 
 Jonathan Webb, 1830-32. 
 Rufus Choate, 1830-30. 
 Caleb Foote, 1830-40. 
 John Moriarty, 1830-34. 
 C. Lawrence, 1830-31, 35-38. 
 Thomas Spencer, 1830, 33, 35. 
 Henry Whipple, 1830-31. 
 George Peabody, 1830-31. 
 Philip Chase, 1830-30. 
 Henry K. Oliver, 1830-37, 40. 
 Stephen P. Webb, 1832, 37-40, 
 William H. Brooks, 1832-34. 
 Charles G. Putnam, 1832-32. 
 
 William H. Chase, 1832-32. 
 Francis Peabody, 1833-37. 
 S. W. Stickney, 1833-33. 
 Benjamin Cox, Jr., 1833-39. 
 J. A. Vaughan, 1834-35. 
 Nathaniel Peabody, 1834-37. 
 Oliver Carlton, 1834-39. 
 E. A. Holyoke, 1835-39, 43, 
 
 47. 
 Jolm Glen King, 1836-36. 
 Ferdinand Andrews, 1836-36. 
 Joseph G. Sprague, 1837-37. 
 S. A. Chase, 1838, 44, 45. 
 John S. Williams, 1838-39. 
 Stephen Osborne, 1838-50. 
 Jonathan C, Perkins, 1839-39. 
 N. B. Perkins, 1839, 40, 46. 
 Luther Upton, 1839-40, 43. 
 Wm. P. Richardson, 1840-40. 
 
68 
 
 A. J. Sessions, 1840-40. 
 Samuel A. Safford, 1840-42. 
 Samuel Williams, 1840-40. 
 Jas. W. Thompson, 1841-41 ' 
 George Wheatland, 1841-44. 
 Francis A. Fabens, 1841-45. 
 Joshua H. Ward, 1841-43. 
 John Wayland, 1841-41. 
 Oliver Parsons, 1841-45. 
 Wm. Mack, 1841-46, 57, 58. 
 Charles H. Pierce, 1841-42. 
 Thos. D. Anderson, 1842-42. 
 S. F. Barstow, 1842-46. 
 James Chamberlain, 1843-47. 
 Benjamin H. Silsbee, 1844-45. 
 William Hunt, 1844-47, 51. 
 Edward H. Payson, 1845-47. 
 W. H. Prince, 1846-47, 54-57. 
 George West, 1846-47. 
 Richard P. Waters, 1846-46. 
 Henry M. Brooks, 1847-47. 
 Augustus D. Rogers, 1847-49. 
 Rufus Putnam, 1847-47. 
 Henry B." Groves, 1848-50. 
 Amory Holbrook, 1848-48. 
 Nath'l Hawthorne, 1848-48. 
 Wm. H. Thorndike, 1848-48. 
 Gilbert L. Streeter, 1848-49. 
 Geo. F. Choate, 1848-49, 52. 
 Washington Very, 1848-50. 
 J. L. Waters, 1848-50. 
 G. F. Chever, 1849-51, 53, 56. 
 Henry O. White, 1849-50. 
 Samuel Johnson, 1849-66. 
 J. B. F. Osgood, 1850-51. 
 Stephen H. Phillips, 1850-52. 
 Daniel Perkins, 1850-52. 
 
 Neh. Brown, Jr., 1851-52. 
 O. B. Frothingham, 1851-51. 
 Henry L. Lambert, 1851-52. 
 George Creamer, 1851-51. 
 George H. Emerson, 1852-53. 
 Wm. D. Northend, 1852-53. 
 Robert C. Mills, 1852-52. 
 James Kimball, 1853-66. 
 Albert G. Browne, 1853-62. 
 William Chase, 1853-53. 
 Henry E. Pope, 1853-53. 
 William Archer, Jr., 1854-55. 
 Samuel P. Andrews, 1854-66. 
 Francis Cox, 1854-55. 
 WiUard P. Phillips, 1854-54. 
 J. Lewis Russell, 1854-54. 
 George Ropes, 1855-56. 
 William Silver, 1856-62. 
 Frederic Winsor, 1857-57. 
 Israel E. Dwinell, 1858-62. 
 Jacob Batchelder, 1859-62. 
 Wi'.lard L. Bowdoin, 1859-69. 
 Alpheus Crosby, 1863-66. 
 George R. Chapman, 1863- 
 A. Augustus Smith, 1863- 
 Thos. H. Frothingham, 1863- 
 Charles A. Ropes, 1867-67. 
 John S. Jones, 1867-67. 
 James O. Safford, 1867-67. 
 Joseph H. Leavitt, 1867-67. 
 William P. Martin, 1868- 
 Nathaniel J. Holden, 1868- 
 John Barlow, 1868-74. 
 Joseph H. Webb, 1868- 
 Nathaniel Brown, 1870- 
 Henry J. Cross, 1875- 
 
69 
 
 TRUSTEES. 
 
 Daniel A. White, 1852-63. Stephen H. Phillips, 1857-67. 
 Stephen C. Phillips, 1852-57. Caleb Foote, 1863- 
 
 George Peabody, 1852- Alpheus Crosby, 1867-74. 
 
 Prof. Crosby died April 17th, 1874, and the vacancy thus 
 made in the board has not been filled. 
 
 OFFICERS FOR 1878-79. 
 
 President. — George B. Loriug. 
 
 Vice President. — James Kimball. 
 
 Bee. and Gor. Secretary. — Charles S. Osgood. 
 
 Treasurer. — Gilbert L. Streeter. 
 
 Managers. — Thomas H. Frothingham, A. Augustus Smith, 
 George R. Chapman, William P. Martin, Nathaniel J. Hol- 
 den, Joseph H. Webb, Nathaniel Brown, Henry J. Cross. 
 
 Trustees. — George Peabody, Caleb Foote and one vacancy. 
 
ACT OF INCORPORATION. 
 
 The act of incorporation under wliicli the Salem Ly- 
 ceum acts at the present time, reads as follows : — 
 
 Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
 
 In the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. 
 
 AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE SALEM LYCEUM. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- 
 sentatives in General Court assembled, and by authori- 
 ty of the same, as follows : 
 
 Section 1. Daniel A. White, Stephen C. Phillips, 
 George Peabody, their associate petitioners and suc- 
 cessors, and the male citizens of the city of Salem of 
 twenty-one years of age, purchasers of tickets to the 
 twenty-third course of lectures of the Salem Lyceum, 
 are hereby made a corporation by the name of the Sa- 
 lem Lyceum, for the purpose of diffusing knowledge, 
 and promoting intellectual improvement in the city of 
 Salem, with all the powers and privileges, and subject 
 to all the duties, restrictions and liabilities set forth in 
 the forty-fourth chapter of the Revised Statutes. 
 
 Section 2. The said corporation may hold real and 
 personal estate, to be used for the purposes aforesaid, 
 not exceeding in all the value of twenty thousand dol- 
 lars ; the legal title to which shall be in three Trustees 
 and their successors, to be chosen by the corporation, 
 at a meeting of members thereof legally called for that 
 purpose. 
 
71 
 
 Section 3. When any vacancy shall occur in said 
 board of trustees, by death, resignation, or incapacity 
 to perform the duties of said office, said vacancy shall 
 be filled by the corporation at a meeting of the mem-, 
 bers thereof legally called for that purpose. Said trus- 
 tees shall be subject, in the care, management and dis- 
 posal of said property to the control and direction of 
 a joint board, consisting of the trustees and board of 
 directors for the time being ; which board of directors 
 shall not consist of more than fifteen members. 
 
 Section 4. All property now owned by or which 
 may accrue to the Salem Lyceum, shall belong to the 
 trustees before mentioned, subject to the control and 
 direction of the joint board above named. 
 
 Section 5. Male citizens of Salem of the agfe of 
 twenty-one years shall be eligible as members of the 
 corporation, but the corporation at any meeting legally 
 called for that purpose may make such by-laws and reg- 
 ulations in regard to membership, choice of directors, 
 and other matters for the purposes of their incorpora- 
 tion herein before provided, as it may deem proper. 
 
 Section 6. This act shall take effect from and after 
 its passage. 
 
 Approved April 20th, 1852. 
 
 ^ 
 
BY-LAWS. 
 
 The code of By-Laws adopted under the provisions 
 of the foregoing act and now in force, are as follows : 
 
 Article 1. Any person eligible by the charter may 
 become a member of the corporation for the year by 
 purchasing a ticket to the annual course of lectures and 
 signing these by-laws, and his membership shall cease 
 upon his failing to purchase a ticket for one year. 
 
 Article 2. The board of directors shall consist of a 
 President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Cor- 
 responding Secretary, Treasurer, and eight Managers. 
 They shall be elected by written ballot, by general 
 ticket, and shall hold their offices till others are chosen 
 in their places. 
 
 Article 3 . A meeting of the corporation for the choice 
 of officers shall be held in the month of May annually. 
 Special meetings of the corporation shall be called by 
 the Recording Secretary when directed by the board of 
 directors or by the written request of ten members. 
 
 Article 4. The President, or in his absence the 
 Vice President, or a President j^^^ tempore, shall pre- 
 side at all meetings of the corporation and of the board 
 of managers, and the board of directors, and the joint 
 board of trustees and directors. 
 
 The Recording Secretary shall notify all meetings of 
 the corporation and respective boards, and shall keep 
 a record of their proceedings, and he shall be sworn to 
 the faithful performance of his duties. 
 
73 
 
 The Corresponding Secretary shall be the organ of 
 the Lyceum in its conference with other associations 
 and the public. 
 
 The Treasurer shall collect and receive all dues and 
 donations and pay all demands from the funds of the 
 corporation, when approved by the President or Re- 
 cording Secretar^s and shall hold all the funds of the 
 Lyceum, except the property invested in the names of 
 the trustees, subject to the order of the joint board of 
 trustees and directors. The Treasurer shall also at the 
 annual meeting, in the month of May, make a report 
 of his receipts and disbursements, and he shall give 
 such security for the faithful discharge of his trusts, 
 as the joint board of trustees and directors shall re- 
 quire. 
 
 To the Board of Directors shall be confided the gen- 
 eral affairs of the Lyceum, with authority to make 
 arrangements for the delivery of lectures and other 
 exercises, and to devise and execute such measures as 
 may best promote the objects of the association. They 
 shall have power to fill vacancies in their number from 
 the members of the corporation, and to make by-laws 
 for their own government. 
 
 Ai'tide 5. The Trustees shall be chosen from the 
 members of the corporation and shall hold all the real 
 estate and stocks now standing in the name of the Sa- 
 lem Lyceum ; and all funds of the corporation which 
 may be hereafter invested in real estate or personal 
 property and securities, shall be invested and stand in 
 the name of the trustees, provided that the Treasurer 
 shall hold all dues and donations received by him, until 
 he shall have been directed by the joint board of trus- 
 tees and directors to invest the same or to transfer 
 
029 920 824 2 
 
 74 
 
 to said trustees. And said trustees shall hold their 
 offices until they are vacated by death, resigaatiou, 
 incapacity, or removal from the city. 
 
 Article 6. A meeting of the joint board of Trus- 
 tees and Directors shall be held annually in the month 
 of May, or as soon thereafter as may be convenient ; 
 and speciaHneetings shall be called at any time when 
 the board of directors or five members of the corpora- 
 tion shall require. 
 
 Article 7. At all meetings of the corporation ten 
 members must be present for the transaction of busi- 
 ness, but no alteration shall be made in these by-laws 
 unless notice of the intention to propose such altera- 
 tion shall have been publicly given in two or more 
 newspapers of the city, seven days before the meeting, 
 and unless by a vote of two-thirds of the members 
 present and voting thereon. At all meetings of the 
 joint board, two trustees and five directors shall con- 
 stitute a quorum. And at all meetings of the board of 
 directors five shall constitute a quorum. 
 
 Article 8. All meetings of the corporation shall be 
 called by public notice in two or more newspapers pub- 
 lished in the city of Salem, seven days before the meet- 
 ing. 
 
 Article 9. The Trustees and members of the board 
 of Directors shall be presented with a ticket to the 
 course of lectures annually, and such presentation shall 
 be equivalent to the purchase of a ticket for all the 
 purposes of membership of the corporation. 
 
 Adopted, July 2lst, 1852. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 llllliillliliiliiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiinii 
 029 920 824 2