ver been formed. It
contains, in its depleted state, not less than 1,500 books and tracts
relating to America during the period of our colonial history."

The Mather family and Gov. Hutchinson are alone to be compared with Mr.
Prince as collectors of books, and theirs avail little, as they have
been scattered and destroyed. It is a matter of congratulation that the
greater portion of Mr. Prince's books have been preserved, each of which
had been carefully selected, "many bearing name, date of purchase, cost,
and place where it was acquired." He frequently noted contemporaneous
events of public importance on fly-leaf.

A great number were purchased during a seven-years' residence in Europe,
and some one says, "By means of this memoranda, we can easily trace the
stages of his sojourn abroad." He invented a very quaint book-plate,
with flowered border, in which he inscribed his name.

Many valuable books and manuscripts were destroyed at the beginning of
hostilities, which resulted in the Revolutionary war. The library, when
entire, was a rare monument to the energy and perseverance of Mr.
Prince, who, through a long and laborious life, never lost sight of
this cherished project of his youth. It has never been merged into any
other collection, but remains entirely separate, in accordance with the
will of the testator. It has a special catalogue, and no book is ever
taken from the building, though accessible for reference in the main
hall. The books are deposited in an alcove at the top of the house,
reached by a spiral stairway. Many of them are of immense size, in heavy
leather bindings, while others are of the smallest dimensions. The pages
are yellow with age, and the majority will have only the ravages of time
to contend with, as the contents are not of a nature to make them
attractive to the youth, or even to many maturer minds of this
generation; but to the antiquarian, and as a picture of the growth of a
mind in Puritan days, from its earliest years to advanced age, this
collection is unequalled; for it was carefully selected, subject to the
taste and needs of Mr. Prince's nature, and each book was familiar and
favorite ground to him.

The first book with date bears this inscription: "Thos. Prince, his
book, 1697, 10 years of age." The book was "Marrow of Modern Divinity,"
with "Awakening Call to the Unconverted" attached, and in his 16th year
the following book was added: "Some Account of Holy Life and Death of