The President:

Letters of Regret.

It is fitting that I should now read you a letter from another descendant of Anne Bradstreet. I will read a letter from Dr. Holmes.

I regret that I shall not be able to be present at the meeting of the descendants of Governor Dudley. After so many generations it may not be possible to trace the lineaments of the old head of the family, but it will be interesting to look for them, and it is far from possible that resemblances among the descendants may here and there show themselves. If there are any such they would be brought out in photographs. It would be well to have the whole group photographed together if possible.

Wishing all success to the gathering of the sturdy old Governor's progeny,

Yours very truly,

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

Another letter I am very sure you will wish to hear. It is from Prof. Charles Eliot Norton.

ASHFIELD, MASS,
6 Sept., 1892. S

My Dear Sir:

I regret that absence from home has delayed my reply to your favor of the 30th August.

I feel greatly honored by the desire of the Committee in charge of the Dudley celebration that I should take part in the proceedings, and I am very sorry that it is quite out of my

power to do so, on account of the pressure of engagements which cannot be given up or postponed.

With all good wishes for the success of the Reunion, I am Very truly yours,

S. H. DUDLEY, Esq.,

Chairman.

C. E. NORTON.

Among the compeers and co-workers of Dudley and Winthrop and Endecott, and the rest who accomplished so much in founding the colony, was Sir Richard Saltonstall. And what so meet and fitting as that some representative of Sir Richard should be invited to participate in these festivities? His distinguished descendant, the Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, writes as follows:

953 EXCHANGE Building, BOSTON, Oct. 20, 1892. S

S. H. DUDLEY, 95 MILK STREet, Boston.

My Dear Sir:

I regret extremely that my engagements will not permit of my accepting your kind invitation to the Dudley Reunion on Tuesday next.

I have the strongest feeling for the memory of the forefathers, especially that noble company who were the founders of the Massachusetts Colony.

Your ancestor, Governor Dudley, was of course intimately connected in that great enterprise with Sir Richard Saltonstall. He was one of the fathers of the Colony and as such surely deserves the respect and admiration of his descendants.

As I grow older I feel a great interest in everything connected with them. I love to think of them, to read of them, and to study their character. Whatever may have been their failings, and they were few, they were wonderful men, and their character has been very generally impressed upon their descendants.

I trust your Reunion of the Dudley descendants will result in their permanent organization, for such must be conducive to the future welfare of our country.

Very truly yours,

LEVERETT SALTONSTALL.

It is said of Governor Dudley that in his youth he was clerk unto a certain judge, but "before he could appear to do much at the pen, for which he was very well accomplished, he was called upon to do something at the sword; for being a young gentleman well known for his ingenuity, courage and conduct, when there were soldiers to be raised by order from Queen Elizabeth for the French service, in the time of King Henry the Fourth, the young sparks about Northampton were none of them willing to enter into the service until a commission was given unto our young Dudley to be their captain; and then presently there were forescore that listed under him." Let me say to you that martial ardor has not died out among his descendants. You well remember the stirring scenes of the war, or the older ones among you do, how call after call was made by President Lincoln for the young men of the country, how they flocked to its defence, and what valiant deeds they did. I need not describe it further, for we have a gentleman here to-night who obeyed that call to duty, went to the front and performed his duty, true to the lineage from which he sprung. Need I mention his name?" I will call upon Col. L. Edwin Dudley to address you.

There was much applause as Col. Dudley arose to speak, but at this point occurred a most unlooked for episode. Mr. Dean Dudley, who was assigned to speak later, arose and said that it was unfair not to call him at this time, that the people expected him to speak now, claiming it so intended, and he proceeded to read an address. President Dudley attempted to expostulate with him, but Mr. Dean Dudley declined to discontinue his address, and the president permitted him to proceed without further objection.

[Mr. Dean Dudley proceeded to read an address now appearing in a pamphlet which he claims to have copyrighted. As he has declined to confer with the Committee having this Report in charge, and has not authorized a reproduction of his Address, it has seemed inadvisable to the committee to insert it here.]

The above cut represents the tomb of our distinguished ancestor, Gov. Thomas Dudley, as it appears at the present time in the ancient burial ground, on Eustis St., Roxbury, and not far distant from the site of the house where the Governor lived. He died at Roxbury, July 31, 1654, and was buried here with all the honors to which his distinguished position in life entitled him. [The Association is indebted to Col. L. Edwin Dudley for this excellent cut].