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ent. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.

The committee appointed to draw up resolutions relative to the death of Mr. Lucien Soniat reported as follows:

"The Louisiana Historical Society desires that there be placed of record a memorial of its respect for its deceased member, Lucien Soniat du Fossat.

"A native of this State, Lucien Soniat du Fossat took a deep and filial interest in the history and progress of Louisiana. Of amiable disposition, courteous manners and noble heart, he commanded the respect of those with whom he came in contact, and had a host of friends.

"The Louisiana Historical Society deplores in his death the loss of one of its most esteemed members, and tenders its sincere sympathy to the family of the deceased.

EDGAR GRIMA,

HENRY RENSHAW,
CHAS. G. GILL,

Committee.

These resolutions were adopted and ordered spread on the minutes, and the Secretary was directed to send a copy thereof to the family of the deceased.

The committee appointed to frame resolutions regarding the death of Judge W. W. Howe reported as follows:

NEW ORLEANS, LA., April 21st, 1909.

To the Members of the Louisiana Historical Society:

The undersigned committee, appointed to prepare resolutions of respect to the memory of our deceased member, William Wirt Howe, who died in this city, Wednesday, March 17th, 1909, beg to report as follows:

Whereas, Divine Providence has removed from our midst our esteemed member, Judge William Wirt Howe; and

Whereas, It is meet and proper that we should pause in our deliberations, in order to pay proper respect to his memory; therefore, be it

Resolved, That in the death of Judge Howe this Society has lost an earnest, efficient and valued member, and one whose service as President of the Society did much to keep alive the traditions and history of Louisiana, which this Society has done so much to maintain and preserve.

That in the death of Judge Howe the State of Louisiana and the people thereof have lost a valued citizen, one who in every official position to which he had been called devoted his best efforts and energy to performing the duties incumbent upon him, and whether as judge of the First District Court, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, President of the City Board of Civil Service Commissioners, or United States Attorney, was always found prompt, attentive and painstaking.

That as a lawyer he was known as the most methodical at the Bar of Louisiana, and was as much at home in the courts of New York or in the Supreme Court of the United States as he was in the courts of Louisiana, where he spent over forty years of his life, and while in the practice of his profession, nothing but praise can be said, yet it is proper to specially mention his uniform kindness and courtesy to the younger members of the Bar.

That to him was due the re-publication, so that same might be accessible to all, of Martin's History of Louisiana, and his "Studies in the Civil Law" ranked him as among the best legal writers of the country. His position at the Bar caused him to be elected President of the American Bar Association, and his last public function was the preparation of a brief tribute to the memory of Mr. Thomas J. Semmes, who had also been President of the American Bar Association, when the Executive Committee of that body met in this city on January 8th, 1909, and placed a wreath upon the tomb of Mr. Semmes. Mr. Howe was a consistent churchman, but of the cheerful and militant type, and while tenacious of his own faith, was tolerant and just in religious matters to those of other creeds.

In conclusion, we quote from a recent publication the following additional tribute to our departed friend:

"In the death of Judge Wm. Wirt Howe New Orleans loses one of its most brilliant lawyers, a man who was accepted throughout the country as an authority on the Civil Code, a scholar whose broad reading enabled him to give philosophic significance to his interpretation, and whose genial nature, quaint humor and kindliness added to what he wrote and said the touch of human sympathy and human interest which transforms technical treatises into literature."

And be it further

Resolved, That this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the Society; that copies thereof be sent to the family of the deceased, to the American Bar Association, to the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church, and to the press of this city. Respectfully submitted,

A true copy:

W. O. HART, Chairman.
Jos. A. BREAUX,

JENNY WILDE,

Committee.

CHAS. G. GILL,

Recording Secretary.

These resolutions were adopted and the Secretary was directed to spread same on the minutes and send copies as required by the resolutions.

The committee, Messrs. W. O. Hart, T. P. Thompson and Alcée Fortier, appointed to devise means to assist in the publication of the work of the late Prof. J. R. Ficklen on "Reconstruction," reported, advising that the Society contribute the sum of one hundred dollars and be furnished with a certain number of copies in return therefor and under the terms of the report. The report was adopted.

Mr. Charles T. Soniat presented to the Society, in behalf of Mrs. Eulalie Fleuriot, wife of Sidney J. Thibodeaux, an engraving of the Battle of New Orleans, drawn by Henry Laclotte; also a hand-painted fan, which had been given to Mrs. Eulalie Virginie LeSassier, wife of René Arnous, in 1825,

by General Lafayette, during his visit to New Orleans, at one of the balls given in his honor. Mrs. Thibodeaux is the universal legatee of Eulalie Virginie Arnous, a daughter of Mrs. René Arnous.

The Society passed a resolution thanking Mr. Soniat and Mrs. Thibodeaux for the gifts.

Mrs. Henry M. Gill was elected a member of the Society.

Mr. Peter J. Hamilton, the distinguished historian of Mobile, delivered an interesting address upon Fort Louis de la Louisiane, with the building of which began the history of Louisiana.

The Society tendered a vote of thanks to Mr. Hamilton for his address, and through President Fortier expressed the pleasure of the members at his presence, and the desire that he be with them on other occasions.

The meeting was then adjourned.

MAY 26TH, 1909.

The regular monthly meeting of the Society was held on Wednesday, May 26th, 1909, at 8 p. m., in the State Museum, No. 730 Carondelet street.

President Fortier called the meeting to order and Mr. Chas. G. Gill, Recording Secretary, announced a quorum presThe minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted.

ent.

President Fortier read a letter from the Director of the Invalides, Paris, confirming the great value of the Napoleon death mask in the State Museum.

Mr. Wm. O. Hart introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:

Whereas, The Louisiana Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, at their recent convention in New Orleans, appointed a committee to consider the advisability of securing in the schools of the State the setting apart of a day annually,

to be known as "Louisiana Day," on which there shall be proper exercises commemorative of the history of the State; and

Whereas, This Society endorses in every way the said action and pledges its assistance and support thereto; therefore, be it

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the Chair to confer with the committee of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and if agreeable, act in conjunction with said committee in accomplishing the desired end.

Mr. Gill seconded the motion and the resolution was adopted.

The following resolution was introduced by Mr. W. O. Hart:

Whereas, April 12th, 1910, will be the semi-centennial anniversary of the unveiling in this city of the monument to Henry Clay, and it is proper that the Louisiana Historical Society should take some notice thereof; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Chair appoint a committee of three to report at the next meeting of the Society whether it is advisable for the Society to prepare or suggest any form of celebration of said anniversary.

Mr. Chas. G. Gill seconded the resolution and it was adopted.

Dr. Dunbar Rowland, Director of the Department of History and Archives, addressed the Society and urged the Society to work for the establishment of such a department in Louisiana.

Dr. Rowland was thanked for his address.

Mr. W. O. Hart called the attention of the Society to the recent "Life of Judah P. Benjamin," written by Prof. Pierce Butler, the Corresponding Secretary.

NOVEMBER 17TH, 1909.

The regular meeting of the Society was held on Wednes

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