Mass., suggests the preservation of the following contemporary tribute communicated to the Massachusetts Spy on May 26, 1824 :

Died at his seat in Marietta, Ohio, on the 4th instant, the venerable and highly distinguished Gen. RUFUS PUTNAM, formerly of Rutland in this county, aged 86. This distinguished champion of the War of the Revolution, and the fast friend of WASHINGTON, gathered a small band of tried souls, and at the close of the War, in 1783, made arrangements and settled on the west bank of the Ohio in 1787, at Marietta, then a savage wilderness. He has lived to see the State of Ohio the fourth in the Union, in point of population-having fourteen Representatives in Congress, while Massachusetts, his native State, has but thirteen. Gen. RUFUS PUTNAM is acknowledged the father of the western country, and lived to the day when Ohio can number 800,000 souls. This is worthy of note. His soul was pure and unsullied, a Christian that carried the mantle of charity-liberal, generous, hospitable-with a large store of philanthropy. He died an honor to human

nature.

The celebration of the centennial of the birth of Horace Mann has called special attention to the educational efforts of early times in America and thus to our collection of text-books. While our founder is known as a publisher and collector of such material, he is not so well known as a writer or compiler of school-books. A line title of one of his rarest follows: New | AMERICAN SPELLING BOOK, | The CHILD'S Easy Introduction | To | SPELLING and READING | The ENGLISH TONGUE. To which is added, | An Entire New, Plain and | Comprehensive English GRAMMAR. Also | The Shorter Catechism, By the Assembly of Divines. | The whole adapted to the Capacities of YOUNG CHILDREN rendering the use of a PRIMER | Unnecessary. | Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts, BY ISAIAH THOMAS: | Sold at his BOOK STORE and by E. BATTELLE in BOSTON. | MDCCLXXXV. Our

copy belonged to Mr. Thomas and contains a few of his manuscript notes. For instance, he takes exception to his own title-page by placing an asterisk after "The whole adapted to the Capacities of Young Children." The footnote to which it calls attention quaintly observes, "The Catechisin excepted." Again, upon the fly-leaf appears the following undated testimony: "This book was rather hastily compiled. I had designed to have written another spelling book on a new plan, and provided some materials for that purpose but had not leisure to execute the work whilst I continued in the printing business. I. Thomas. Soon after publishing this, I printed and introduced Perry's spelling book, which after it was new modeled had what booksellers call a very good run."" The book described is a 12mo of 144 pages, bound in linen and backed with written label "I Thomas's Book." His preface follows:—

As many Spelling Books are now extant by different authors, an apology for this may appear necessary. So far from finding fault (according to the usual custom of each successive author or compiler) with those Gentlemen who have written upon the subject, I think each has made some valuable improvements. In this I have endeavored to collect these improvements. My principal object has been to adapt it to the capacity of young children, and facilitate their access to an easy attainment of Spelling and Reading, endeavoring equally to avoid prolixity and intricacy. The utility of a work of this kind being sufficiently obvious, will, I flatter myself, plead an apology for my attempt. The Spellings are divided agreeably to the Pronunciation and according to the method pursued by the best and most approved authors. I have likewise added a compendium introduction to English Grammar upon an entire new plan, which I hope will be found useful. The following sheets are with respect submitted to the candour of the publick, by their Most Obedient, Humble servant, The EDITOR.

Your librarian has placed with the town documents of rester the report of his attendance and conduct for the

ending September 28, 1842, made by Abigail Pratt,

Instructor of the Centre Infant School. It records the fact that one hundred and two infants are upon the roll and that the studies are "The New Testament, Franklin Primer, Gallaudet's Book on the Soul, Gallaudet's Picture and Defining Book, and North American Arithmetic." The italics are the writer's. The pupil's fourth birthday occurred only the day before the report was sent to his parents.

Respectfully submitted.

EDMUND M. BARTON,

Librarian.

Givers and Gifts.

FROM MEMBERS.

BARTON, EDMUND M., Worcester.-Twenty college pamphlets; and

BRINTON, DANIEL G., LL.D., Philadelphia, Pa.-His

66 Ethnological

View of History"; and his "Left Handedness in North American Aboriginal Art."

BROCK, ROBERT A., Richmond, Va.-Virginia newspapers containing articles by himself.

BUTLER, JAMES D., LL.D., Madison, Wis.-Three of his own productions.

CHASE, CHARLES A., Worcester.-Accounts of the Laying of the Memorial Stone of the John Robinson Memorial Church, at Gainsborough, England, June 29, 1896; a "Tribute to Ernst Curtius "; two books; twelve pamphlets; and one manuscript.

DAVIS, ANDREW MCF., Cambridge.-Eight books; and three hundred and thirty pamphlets.

DAVIS, Hon. EDWARD L., Worcester.-Seven books; and fifty-two pamphlets.

DEXTER, FRANKLIN B., New Haven, Conn.-His "Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College." Vol. II.

EAMES, WILBERFORCE, New York.-Photographic facsimile of the "Association or Non-importation agreement of 1774."

EDES, HENRY H., Editor, Charlestown.-Annals of King's Chapel, Boston. Volume II.

FORBES, Hon. WILLIAM T., Westboro." The Fellows of '71, Amherst College."

FOSTER, WILLIAM E., Providence, R. I.-His report of 1896 as Librarian of the Providence Public Library.

GILMAN, DANIEL C., LL.D., Baltimore, Md.-His "Statements respecting Johns Hopkins University."

GREEN, Hon. ANDREW H., New York.-His "Communication relative to the State Reservation at Niagara."

GREEN, Hon. SAMUEL A., Boston.-Four of his own publications; twenty-eight books; two hundred and eight pamphlets; one map; and the American Journal of Numismatics," in continuation.

GREEN, SAMUEL S., Worcester.-His Annual Report for 1894-95 as Librarian of the Free Public Library of Worcester.

HALL, HUBERT, London, G. B.-An illustrated paper on Austerfield Church.

HOAR, Hon. GEORGE F., Worcester.-His "Popular Discontent with Representative Government"; forty-two books; six hundred and two pamphlets; ten files of newspapers in continuation; and eleven lithographs.

HOYT, ALBERT H., Boston.-Abbott's "Sermon in memory of Rev. George S. Converse, D.D., March 15, 1896."

HUNNEWELL, JAMES F., Charlestown." Honolulu in 1817 and 1818," transcribed and edited by Mr. Hunnewell.

HUNTINGTON, Rev. WILLIAM R., D.D., New York.-His "The Staying Power of a Down Town Church."

JAMESON, J. FRANKLIN, Ph.D., Providence, R. I.-His "Bibliography of Early Party Conventions"; and Papers from the Historical Seminary of Brown University, VI., VII.

JENNISON, SAMUEL, Boston.-Manuscript Note Book, 1638-1641, of Thomas Lechford.

KINGSBURY, FREDERICK J., LL.D., Waterbury, Conn.-His "A Sociological Retrospect."

LEÓN, NICOLás, Guadalupe, Mexico.-One pamphlet.

MERRIMAN, Rev. DANIEL, D.D., Worcester.--His "The Prophetic Function of Missions."

'Crania

MOORE, CLARENCE B., Ph.D., Philadelphia, Pa. - His "Additional Mounds of Duval and Clay Counties, Florida"; and Allen's from the Mounds of the St. John's River, Florida." NELSON, Hon. THOMAS L., Worcester.-"Fur Seal Arbitration. Proceedings of the Tribunal of Arbitration," in sixteen volumes. PAINE, Rev. GEORGE S., Worcester.-Four pamphlets relating to English schools and societies.

PAINE, NATHANIEL, Worcester.-Four books; three hundred and seventy pamphlets; fifteen lithographs; two photographs; one manuscript; one Columbian stamp; a number of posters; and six files of newspapers, in continuation.

PEET, STEPHEN D., Ph.D., Good Hope, Ill.-His "American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal," as issued.

PERRY, Right Rev. WILLIAM STEVENS, D.D., Davenport, Ia." The Iowa Churchman," as issued.

PIERCE, Hon. EDWARD L., Milton.-His "Recollections as a Source of History."

PORTER, Rev. EDWARD G., Dorchester.-Four of his pamphlets and four of his circulars relating to the Armenian question.