was an assistant to his father, the Apostle; and he is mentioned by Chief Justice Sewall, in his Diary (I. 76, 186, 187), under date of May 13, 1685, and August 25, 1687. According to the last entry he was " much touch'd as to his Understanding," which is a mild expression for mental trouble. Another interesting feature connected with the publication is the fact that in most libraries it is catalogued under Mr. Belcher's name, which is the only one that appears in the title of most of the editions. As a partial exception to this latter statement it may be mentioned that in three editions, all printed near the same period of time, one probably in Boston as early as 1746, one in New London shortly before 1760, and a third in Boston shortly afterward, the name of John Elliott or John Eliot is given as the writer, but even this ascribed authorship was soon discredited and disappeared from the tract. The initials" J. E." (Joseph Eliot), signed to the pamphlet, probably led to this confusion of names. Mr. Sibley, in his "Harvard Graduates" (I. 530; II. 164) gives biographical sketches of both Joseph and Benjamin Eliot, but he does not mention Joseph's connection with the authorship of this widely circulated Epistle. Eliot's Letter must have had some merit as a literary production, inasmuch as it passed through so many editions in widely separated lands. It seems to have struck a note in harmony with the religious feeling of many persons, and to have furnished spiritual nourishment to famished souls. A list of shortened titles of the different editions of the Letter, arranged alphabetically, and in part chronologically, with date and place of publication so far as known, is given below. The four titles appended to "Mr. Mitchel's Letter" are shown by the paging. Remarks also were made during the meeting by the PRESIDENT, and Messrs. EDWARD CHANNING, EDWARD STANWOOD, F. B. SANBORN, GAMALIEL BRADFORD, G. STANLEY HALL, and THOMAS L. LIVERMORE. Rev. Dr. George A. Gordon was appointed to write the memoir of Rev. Dr. Herrick; Rev. Dr. A. V. G. Allen the memoir of Rev. Dr. Donald; Hon. W. W. Crapo the memoir of John S. Brayton; Hon. James M. Barker the memoir of Henry W. Taft; Franklin B. Sanborn the memoir of George H. Monroe; and Moorfield Storey the memoir of Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar, which was to have been prepared by George F. Hoar. The preparation of a memoir of George F. Hoar was referred to Messrs. Nathaniel Paine and G. Stanley Hall. LIST OF DONORS TO THE LIBRARY. United States. - Bureau of Education. | Cambridge Public Library. Department of State. Smithsonian Institution. Canada. - Department of Agriculture. State of Iowa. Town of Sutton. Town of Winchester. American Academy of Arts and Sciences. American Antiquarian Society. American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. American Colonization Society. American Congregational Association. American Geographical Society. American Jewish Historical Society. American Museum and Natural History American Philosophical Society. Amherst College. Farm School, Thompson's Island. General Conference of Congregational Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com- General Theological Library. Georgia Historical Society. Grand Army of the Republic, Depart ment of Massachusetts. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Groton School. Guilford Battle Ground Company. Harvard Medical Alumni Association. Harvard University. Haverhill Public Library. Historical and Philosophical Society of Houghton, Mifflin & Company. |