1899. May 27. Lewis Nixon, builder of the U. S. torpedo-boat _O’Brien_, writes from the Crescent shipyard, Elizabeth, N. J., that: “The uncertainty as to the delivery of certain forgings, making in Pennsylvania for the _O’Brien_, renders it impossible, at this time, for me to give you even an approximate date for the launching. I am endeavoring to get some information in this matter, and just as soon as I receive it I shall communicate with you.” Mr. Nixon states that he takes pride in the fact that he is “building the _O’Brien_, which is a name honorably and valorously associated with the early history of our navy.” 1899. May 30. Secretary-General Murray attends a preliminary meeting held in Boston, Mass., to form a Franco-American Historical Society, and makes an address expressing good wishes on behalf of the American-Irish Historical body. 1899. July. Announcement is made that a member of the Society, Rev. Cyrus Townsend Brady, Philadelphia, Pa., has written a novel entitled, “For the Freedom of the Sea,” the same being a romance of the War of 1812. 1899. July 22. Death of William Slattery, a member of the Society; associate justice of the police court, Holyoke, Mass.; graduate of Harvard University. 1899. Aug. 2. Rev. Frank L. Phalen, of the Society, is commissioned chaplain of the Second Regiment of Infantry (Massachusetts). 1899. Aug. 6. Death of Rev. George W. Pepper, D. D., Cleveland, O., vice-president of the Society for that state. 1899. Aug. 18. The librarian of the University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., requests for the institution copies of the reports and other publications of the Society. He says: “We are very anxious to obtain these, and will gladly pay all transportation.” 1899. Aug. 20. Death of Rev. Denis Scannell, rector of St. Anne’s church, Worcester, Mass., a member of the Society. 1899. Aug. 29. Fourteenth meeting of the Council. Place: Aquidneck House, Newport, R. I. Hon. John C. Linehan, of Concord, N. H., presides. This is the anniversary of the battle of Rhode Island, 1778, in which the American forces were commanded by Gen. John Sullivan.