Wilson, Lieut. James, return of provisions, 1795. 1 W 79. Winchester, James, to Gov. Sevier, Feb. 13, 1804, in regard to the enrollment of volunteers. 1 W 86. Wool, Gen. John E., to Gov. Cannon, July 10, 1836, in regard to Wright, Marcus J., sketch of Meriwether Lewis. 1 L 48. 2 C 166. Y Yell, Archibald, to Gov. Houston, Dec. 10, 1827, asking for justice. to the militia of the state. 1 Y 1. Z Zollicoffer, F. K., adjutant general, to Gov. Jones, Nov. 30, 1841, 1 Z 1. concerning a census of the militia. Zollicoffer, Gen. F. K., to Gov. Harris, Aug. 2, 1861, the condition of affairs in Kentucky and Tennessee. relative to 1 Z 2. THE LIBRARY AND MUSEUM. It has been found impracticable to prepare for this issue of the Annual full catalogs of the books and curios belonging to the Society. This will be done hereafter. Meanwhile, some of the more interesting items may briefly be mentioned. Among the rare books in the library are the following: A photographic copy of the original manuscript of the Codex Vaticanus, now in the library of the Vatican, at Rome. Only one hundred copies were made, this being No. 99. A photographic copy of the original manuscript of the comedy of "Phormio," by Terence, B. C. 185, now in the library of the Vatican, at Rome. Cicero's Cato. Major," printed by Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia, 1744. Haywood's "Aboriginal History of Tennessee," 1818. Haywood's "The Christian Advocate," 1819. Only four copies of this book are known to be in existence. Hawkes's History of North Carolina, and Revolutionary History. The Knoxville Gazette. The first newspaper printed in what is now the state of Tennessee. Bound volume, 1791 to 1795, inclusive. Complete set of the Nashville City Directory, from the beginning to date. The appended list includes only a few of the articles in the museum: A large collection of portraits of pioneers, soldiers, statesmen and other eminent Tennesseans. This collection includes all of the governors of Tennessee, with two exceptions. Portrait of Napoleon I, from life. This portrait was presented to the late Judge John Catron by Marshal Bertrand, and was bequeathed to the society by Mrs. Jane Marshall. Death mask of Napoleon I. Egyptian mummy from Cairo, presented to the society by the late Col. Jeremiah George Harris, 1860. Egyptian mummied cat, from Thebes. Silk dress made and worn in 1745, being part of the trousseau of Mrs. Thomas Lynch, mother of Thomas Lynch, Jr., one of the signers of the declaration of independence. Two horn cups used by Oliver Cromwell. Two vests worn by Gen. Israel Putnam. Commission of Gen. Putnam from the continental congress. Daniel Boone's musket. Field glass of Gen. John Sevier. Sword presented to Gen. Sevier by the state of North Carolina, for gallant services at the battle of King's mountain. Sword and sash of the British Gen. Ferguson, killed at the battle of King's mountain. Sword worn by Gen. John Coffee at the battle of New Orleans. Bronze helmet worn by a soldier at the battle of Waterloo. One half of a mold used by Montgomery Bell in casting cannon balls for Gen. Jackson's troops at New Orleans. Wine chest of the Mexican Gen. Santa Anna, captured at the battle of Buena Vista. Spurs worn by the Emperor Maximilian. Inkstand made from a piece of stone from the walls of the Alamo. White beaver hat, made especially for President Andrew Jackson, and worn by him at his first inauguration. Gen. Jackson's inkstand. Check containing the last signature of Gen. Jackson, written two days before his death Quill pen used by President Polk in signing his first message to Congress. Accompanying it is an interesting description of the pen, in Mr. Polk's own handwriting. The last letter of President Andrew Johnson, unfinished. He was stricken with paralysis while writing it. Compass used in laying off the first town lots sold in Nashville. Key of the first jail built in Nashville. Numerous coins, medals, Indian relics, etc. HISTORY OF THE TENNESSEE HISTORICAL The first meeting of the Tennessee Historical Society in its new and elegant quarters in the Watkins Institute was held. May 7, 1886. Many invited guests were present, in addition to a full attendance of the members. On this occasion Hon. John M. Lea, President of the Society, delivered the following address, containing a sketch of the Society's history. Subsequently he made a brief addition to the address, sketching the history of the Antiquarian Society. This sketch brings up the history of the Society to the year 1886. Since that date there have been few changes in its organization. The venerable author of the sketch is still its honored President. Two years later the indefatigable and beloved Secretary, Mr. Anson Nelson, ceased his labors only with the close of his life. Mr. John M. Bass devoted twelve years assiduously to the duties of this office, and was succeeded in 1900 by the present Secretary, Dr. R. L. C. White. JUDGE LEA'S ADDRESS. I have been requested to give, this evening, a brief sketch of the origin, progress and present condition of the Tennessee Historical Society. In accordance with a call made through the public papers, a few citizens of Nashville met at the library rooms of the Merchants' Association on Tuesday evening, May 1, 1849, and organized a society having for its object, as the paper reads, "the collection and preservation of the facts. relative to the natural, aboriginal and civil history of the state of Tennessee, and for such other purposes as may be hereafter deemed advisable." The call was signed by forty gentlemen, representing the various interests and professionslegal, medical, mercantile and mechanical-which have given dignity, stability and strength to civil society; an array of names eminently respectable, all of whom, save seven-so transitory is life-having accomplished their work on earth, have long since taken "their places in the silent halls of death." The great poet tells us that "the evil men do lives after them," but it is equally true that the good which men do survives in the ages after their bodies have been consigned to the tomb. The task would be pleasing, though in some respects melancholy, to dwell upon the memories of those gentlemen whose names are yet fresh in the recollection of the people of Nashville, but time would fail me to sketch the incidents or record the many excellences and virtues of their lives. Let it be sufficient to say that, in that list of forty names, not one can be found upon which was ever breathed the slightest suspicion of dishonor. They were, in their day and generation, active workers in every movement which had for its object the advancement of the community, and the most rigid scrutiny into their public and private conduct could detect no greater flaws than those blemishes which are an inseparable part of human nature. Of such stern moral fiber were our predecessors of the historical society constructed, and of our paternity we have, indeed, just reason to be proud. The officers elected at the first meeting were Nathaniel Cross, president; A. W. Putnam, vice president; W. A. Eichbaum, treasurer; John H. Eakin, corresponding secretary, and William F. Cooper, recording secretary. It is, perhaps, an act of justice to acknowledge that this organization was not the initial effort to establish a historical society in Tennessee. At least two such efforts were previously made, each of which maintained a short-lived existence. In 1820, Judge John Haywood, so favorably known as the "Father of Tennessee History," while engaged in collecting the material for his "Civil and Political History" and his "Natural and Aboriginal History," organized, as an auxiliary to his labors, an association known as "The Tennessee Antiquarian Society." The minute book of this society, a large record book, is still preserved in the archives of the Tennessee Historical Society. It contains the constitution and minutes of the Antiquarian Society, and many valuable historical contributions by its members and its correspondents. |