American Antiquarian Society

founded by Isaiah Thomas at Worcester, Ma ., in 1812 for the purpose of illustrating the antiquities of the New World as a separate department of history. It has published several volumes of collections and of proceedings, including the “Are | cheologia American a.” | American Archives, a valuable collection of documentary materials | respecting the events leading up to the Revolution. This publication | was begun by Peter Force at Washington in 1833-34, under instructions from the government. It contains letters, debates, notices of public affairs and e ays on constitutional government, the whole forming a | complete documentary history of the colonies. The publication had included only nine volumes when appropriations ceased. Congre has never since continued this invaluable repertory. | American A ociation for the Advancement of Science, the most important among American scientific societies. Its organization was effected at Boston in 1847. Meetings have been held each year in some American city. American Board of Commi ioners for Foreign Mi ions, the oldest mi ionary society in the United States, organized June 29, 18Io. It is an incorporated body with 250 members, and supports over 500 mi ionaries and many schools in Europe, America, Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. American Historical A ociation, founded at Saratoga in 1884, was incorporated by Congre in 1889. It is now affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, and its papers are published by government. Its meetings have mostly been held in Washington. It numbers (1902) about 1,600 members, American Historical Society, founded in Washington in 1836. Its meetings were held in the House of Representatives at the Capitol, and the first president was John Quincy Adams. It published one volume of transactions. American Institute, a New York institution founded in 1828 to promote domestic industry. A charter was granted by the State Legis- ‘ lature. Annual exhibitions showing the progre of industry, invention and manufacture have been held. American Insurance Company vs. Canter, an important case in the U. S. Supreme Court, decided in 1828. An insured cargo of cotton, wrecked on the coast of Florida, was, by a decree of a territorial court, sold to satisfy the claim for salvage. The owners abandoned the cargo to the underwriters. Canter, having bought portions of the cargo, sold the same at auction in Charleston. The insurance company brought suit for recovery, alleging unconstitutionality and want of authority in the Territorial Court of Florida. The district judge pronounced the decree of the Florida court a nullity. The Circuit Court, however, confirmed the decree of the Territorial Court and maintained Canter’s claims, This judgment was also confirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States on the ground that the act of the Territorial Legislature of Florida, in erecting the Territorial Court, was not inconsistent with the laws of the United States, and was therefore valid. The opinion of the court is of importance because of Judge Marshall’s decision sespectinz the basis of the government of territories. 36