THE DOWSE MONUMENT.

THIS monument is on Gentian Path, and consists of a simple obelisk of granite. The graves of the different members of Mr. Dowse's family are marked by headstones in the same lot. The monument erected to Franklin, by Mr. Dowse, is also a granite obelisk, of larger dimensions. It bears the following inscription:

To the memory of Benjamin Franklin, the Printer, the Philosopher, the Statesman, the Patriot, who, by his wisdom, blessed his country and his age, and bequeathed to the world an illustrious example of industry, integrity, and self-culture. Born in Boston, M DCC VI. Died in Philadelphia, M DCC XC.

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HISTORY OF MOUNT AUBURN.

IT appears that the earliest meeting assembled to consider the project of a Rural Cemetery in the vicinity of Boston, was held in November, 1825, at the house and by the request of Dr. Jacob Bigelow. The individuals who were present on this occasion, besides Dr. Bigelow, were John Lowell, George Bond, William Sturgis, Thomas W. Ward, Samuel P. Gardiner, John Tappan, and Nathan Hale. The project met with unanimous approval, and Messrs. Bond and Tappan were appointed a Committee to make inquiries, and report a suitable spot of ground for the purpose. The Committee were unsuccessful in their inquiries; they made no report of their proceedings, nor was the subject actively revived by the above named persons.

The next movement was made in 1830, when Dr. Bigelow, who seems to have remained firm in his original purpose, - having obtained from George W. Brimmer the offer of the grounds known as Sweet Auburn, for a public Cemetery, at the price of six thousand dollars, communicated the fact to the other officers of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, of which institution he was at that time Corresponding Secretary, and engaged their co-operation in an earnest effort to accomplish the object of his wishes. A meeting of the members of that Society was held on the twentythird of November, by invitation of Dr. Bigelow and John C. Gray, to discuss the project of a Cemetery, to be connected with an Experimental Garden of the Society. A Committee of the Society was appointed, consisting of H. A. S. Dearborn, Jacob Bigelow, Ed

ward Everett, George Bond, John C. Gray, Abbott Lawrence, and George W. Brimmer.

These gentlemen called a more general meeting on the eighth of June, 1831, to consider the same subject. Joseph Story took the Chair, and Edward Everett acted as Secretary. Great interest and entire unanimity were expressed in regard to the design of the meeting. It was also voted to purchase "Sweet Auburn," provided one hundred subscribers could be obtained, at sixty dollars each. A Committee of twenty was appointed to report on a general plan of proceedings proper to be adopted for effecting the objects of the meeting. The following are the names of the Committee: Joseph Story, Daniel Webster, H. A. S. Dearborn, Charles Lowell, Samuel Appleton, Jacob Bigelow, Edward Everett, George W. Brimmer, George Bond, A. H. Everett, Abbott Lawrence, James T. Austin, Franklin Dexter, Joseph P. Bradlee, Charles Tappan, Charles P. Curtis, Zebedee Cook, Jr., John Pierpont, Lucius M. Sargent, and George W. Pratt.

An eloquent Report on the general objects of the meeting was presented by the Chairman of the previously appointed Committee, H. A. S. Dearborn.

Another meeting was held on the eleventh of June, 1830, and heard the following Report of the Committee of twenty:

1. That it is expedient to purchase, for a Garden and Cemetery, a tract of land, commonly known by the name of Sweet Auburn, near the road leading from Cambridge to Watertown, containing about seventy-two acres, for the sum of six thousand dollars: provided this sum can be raised in the manner proposed in the second article of this Report.

2. That a subscription be opened for lots of ground in the said tract, containing not less than two hundred square feet each, at the price of sixty dollars for each lot, the subscription not to be binding until one hundred lots are subscribed for.

3. That when a hundred or more lots are taken, the right of choice shall be disposed of at an auction, of which seasonable notice shall be given to the subscribers.

4. That those subscribers, who do not offer a premium for the right of choosing, shall have their lots assigned to them by lot.

5. That the fee of the land shall be vested in the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, but that the use of the lots, agreeably to an Act of the Legislature, respecting the same, shall be secured to the subscribers, their heirs and assigns, forever.

6. That the land devoted to the purpose of a Cemetery shall contain not less than forty acres.

7. That every subscriber, upon paying for his lot, shall become a member, for life, of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, without being subject to assess

ments.

8. That a Garden and Cemetery Committee of nine. persons shall be chosen annually, first by the subscribers, and afterwards by the Horticultural Society, whose duty it shall be to cause the necessary surveys and allotments to be made, to assign a suitable tract of land for the Garden of the Society, and to direct all matters appertaining to the regulation of the Garden and Cemetery; five at least of this Committee shall be persons having rights in the Cemetery.

9. That the establishment, including the Garden and Cemetery, be called by a definite name, to be supplied by the Committee.