I had the pleasure of meeting, at the rooms of the society, that indefatigable antiquary, Dr. Webb, widely known as the American correspondent of the "Danish Society of Northern Antiquarians" at Copenhagen. He was sitting in the chair that once belonged to Governor Winthrop, writing upon the desk of the speaker of the Colonial Assembly of Massachusetts, around which the warm debates were carried on concerning American liberty, from the time when James Otis denounced the Writs of Assistance, until Governor Gage adjourned the Assembly to Salem, in 1774. Hallowed by such associations, the desk is an interesting relic. Dr. Webb's familiarity with the collections of the society, and his kind attentions, greatly facilitated my search among the six thousand articles for things curious connected with my subject and made my brief visit far more profitable to myself than it would otherwise have been. Among the relics preserved are the chair that belonged to Governor Carver; the sword of Miles Standish; the huge key of Port Royal gate; a _samp-pan_, that belonged to Metacomet, or King Philip; and the sword reputed to have been used by Captain Church when he cut off that unfortunate sachem's head. The dish is about twelve inches in diameter, wrought out of an elm knot with great skill. The sword is very rude, and was doubtless made by a blacksmith of the colony. The handle is a roughly-wrought piece of ash, and the guard is made of a wrought-iron plate. [Illustration: SPEAKER'S DESK AND WINTHROP'S CHAIR.] [Illustration: PHILIP'S SAMP-PAN.] [Illustration: CHURCH'S SWORD.] FOOTNOTES: [1] This sketch of Revolutionary scenes and incidents in and about Boston, is part of an unpublished chapter from LOSSING'S "Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution," now in course of publication by Harper and Brothers. [2] The following is a copy of the inscription: HERE, On the 19th of April, 1775, was made the first forcible resistance to BRITISH AGGRESSION. On the opposite bank stood the American militia, and on this spot the first of the enemy fell in the WAR OF THE REVOLUTION, which gave Independence to these United States. In gratitude to God, and in the love of Freedom, This Monument was erected, A.D. 1836. [3] The following is a copy of the inscription: