the discussion of their business transactions. During the evening, while at home, he was attacked by a brain disease of a paralytic character, and in a few hours, without conscious suffering, this useful life came serenely to its end. Thus,

"with no throbs of fiery pain,

No cold gradations of decay,
Death broke at once the vital chain,
And freed his soul the nearest way."

Mr. URIEL CROCKER died at his summer residence in Cohasset on July 19, 1887, at the advanced age of nearly ninety-one years. His name has stood at the head of our list of Vice-Presidents for many years. He was earnestly urged to accept the position of President, especially so on the retirement of Mr. Winthrop, but, for reasons personal to himself felt it his duty to decline. To Mr. Crocker the Association is under many obligations. In the many pecuniary difficulties which attended the erection of the Monument, he was conspicuous by his exertions to accomplish the important work. He was treasurer of the fund which was raised among the members of the Mechanics' Association for the completion of the Monument. He was elected a Director of this Association in 1833, and continued in that position or that of Vice-President to which he was chosen in 1869 — to the day of his death. On the occasion of the completion of fifty years of this service, Mr. Winthrop, then our President, at our meeting in 1883, said, and the call was heartily responded to: "I call upon you all to rise and unite with me in offering our thanks and congratulations to our valued associate, and excellent fellow-citizen and friend, Uriel Crocker, and in expressing the earnest hope that he may long be spared in health and strength, not only to this Association, but to the community in which he has been so conspicuous an example of that industry, integrity, public spirit, and patriotism which have characterized and distinguished the mechanics of Boston from the days of their illustrious leader, Paul Revere." Mr. Crocker was to live more than four years after this well deserved compliment

in the full enjoyment of health and intellect. Those who were present at our meeting in 1885 will recollect a pleasant speech containing some reminiscences of Lafayette made by him in connection with a quite unpremeditated conversation that arose as to that distinguished friend of America. To-day we are not to see the delightful smile, the kind and gracious manner, or to feel the cordial grasp of the hand with which he always greeted us on this anniversary. The day was to him one of deep feeling; it gave him pleasure to meet us here, to welcome us, as he often did, to the generous hospitality of his house, and to converse on the great deed that the day commemorates.

Mr. Crocker was born in Marblehead on September 13, 1796, and was closely related to General Glover of Revolutionary fame. He had received the best education, short of a collegiate one, which the academies of that day afforded. He entered the printing and publishing establishment of Samuel T. Armstrong in September, 1811, at fifteen years of age. Two months later there came to the same establishment another boy somewhat less than a year younger than himself, the son of a physician in Western Massachusetts. I need not say that this was our honored associate, Mr. Osmyn Brewster. Most cordially, in the name and by the authority of all, I am sure, I welcome him to his seat among us to-day, rejoicing that his life is still spared to the community which loves and respects him. Between these boys there arose that friendship which was to endure to the end of their lives. Reared in the best home teaching and influences of the New England families of the time, their friendship had its solid basis in the respect which each had for industry, for capacity, and for unswerving honesty. About the date of their majority they became partners with Mr. Armstrong, but soon purchased his interest, and formed the partnership which was so long and well known as printers and publishers. They were partners in active business from 1818 to 1876, the long period of fifty-eight years. During these years there issued from their presses and their publishing-rooms a large number of standard works, almost all of an educational or religious