Mr. Everett concluded by playfully referring to the sentiment sent by Mr. Peabody to the centennial assembly, in these words: "Now, we all know, that, on an occasion of this kind, a loose slip of paper, such as a sentiment is apt to be written on, is in danger of being lost: a puff of air is enough to blow it away. Accordingly, just by way of paper-weight, just to keep the toast safe on the table, and also to illustrate his view of this new way of paying old debts, Mr. Peabody laid down twenty thousand dollars on the top of his sentiment; and, for the sake of still greater security, has since added about as much more. Hence it has come to pass that this excellent sentiment has sunk deep into the minds of our Danvers friends, and has, I suspect, mainly contributed to the honors and pleasures of this day.

"But I have occupied, Mr. President, much more than my share of your time; and, on taking my seat, I will only congratulate you on this joyful occasion, as I congratulate our friend and guest at having had it in his power to surround himself with so many smiling faces and warm hearts."

Other excellent speeches and many good letters also marked this pleasant occasion; but space forbids further reference to them. Are they not all chronicled finely in the memorial volume published by order of the committee of arrangements?

CHAPTER VI.

GOOD GIFTS CONTINUED.

The Donation to Thetford, Vt. — Grandfather Dodge. - The Wood

O a communication addressed to the trustees of the Peabody Library at Thetford, Vt., the Rev. A. T. Deming, Chairman of the Board, very kindly responded as follows:

"We have, as yet, no printed account of Mr. Peabody's gift; though we hope to have one soon in connection with the printed catalogue.

"The following embraces, I think, the material facts which you desire.

"During the fall of 1866, Mr. Peabody, while visiting friends here, expressed his desire to do something in be

half of the place. The citizens assembled Aug. 6, 1866, and passed the following resolutions :

"Resolved, That we most gratefully appreciate the benevolence of Mr. George Peabody, and do extend to him our hearty thanks for the very generous and munificent gift which he proposes to make us for the purpose of a village library; and will most cheerfully carry out the plan he presents in establishing it; and, in accordance therewith, have elected Dr. H. H. Niles and Isaiah Coburn as trustees, to act with those already chosen by him. "Resolved, That the library shall take the name of its munificent founder, and be called "The Peabody Library."

666

'Resolved, That Rev. Charles Scott be appointed a committee to present the above resolutions to the donor, and request him to make such conditions and regulations respecting said fund as he may deem proper.'

"The resolutions were accordingly forwarded, and the following response from Mr. Peabody received:

"GEORGETOWN, September, 1866.

"To Rev. C. SCOTT, Chairman of Peabody-Library Committee, Post Mills, Vt.

"Dear Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt from you of the resolutions of the citizens of Post Mills in regard to my proposed gift of a library to that village; and, in accordance with the desire therein expressed, I beg to state my wishes in regard to the management of the library.

"Of the $5,000 which I proposed giving for the purpose mentioned, I have placed $1,500 in the hands of Samuel T. Dana, Esq., of the firm of Dana & Co., South Market Street, Boston, subject to your order when money shall from time to time be required for building-purposes or for the purchase of books; he allowing you interest at the rate of five per cent per annum in account.

"For $1,500 of the remainder, I have employed Mr. H. G. Somerby of London (a friend who has bought largely for me for other libraries) to purchase standard and useful books as the foundation of your library; and I am sure they will prove cheaper and better than we could get them in this country. I think they will be here by the first of January next. You can, therefore, go on with your building accordingly.

"With the remaining $2,000 I have purchased two gold-bearing coupon-bonds of the United States, of the denomination of $1,000, numbers 33,194 and 60,182,popularly called five-forties. These I bought for you on my return, and they are now worth nearly seventy dollars over cost; the two bonds being in the hands of S. T. Dana, who holds them for your account.

"It is my wish, and a condition of my gift, that this sum of $2,000 shall always remain and be kept permanently invested by the trustees or library committee in United-States bonds or other safe securities as a libraryfund, the income of which shall be applied to the purchase of books or other wants of the library, as their discretion may determine,

666 "It is my wish that the privileges of the library shall be enjoyed (under such restrictions, as to suitable age or character, as may from time to time be made by the trustees, or committee having it in charge) by the inhabitants of the two school-districts in the town of Thetford, which are comprised in the village of Post Mills; and I would suggest that these privileges may be extended in particular cases, at the discretion of the library-officers, to others, who, though not within the above limits, may reside near them, and may be in the habit of doing business at the village of Post Mills.

“And wishing, as I have ever done, to encourage and cherish a spirit of harmony and good will among all, it is my desire that at no time shall any preference or distinction be made in the selection of books, or in any matter connected with the library, on account of any political party or religious sect; and it is my wish, that, whenever a minister or ministers of the gospel are or may be settled in Post Mills Village, he or they may be upon the library

committee.

“The motive which has most strongly impelled me to make this gift is my sense of gratitude for kindness shown me in my early life by my late revered uncle, Eliphalet Dodge, and his excellent wife, who still lives in your village. It is therefore my desire that there shall always be three of their descendants, and bearing their name (so long as there shall remain so many of them inhabitants of Post Mills Village), among the trustees of the library, sanctioned by yourself and others.