27 
within Thirty Miles of the City of New York,” and it was thought 
that a catalogue embracing the same territory would be useful to 
botanists, and show interesting changes in our local Flora, in the 
obliteration of some species and the introduction of others. 
The members of the Club, if that which was hardly a body can 
be said to have members, entered into the work with zeal, and 
having a common object to labor for, the association assumed a 
stability that it did not before possess, and increased in numbers. 
Those at work upon the new catalogue found that nearly a half cen- 
tury had passed since the completion of the first catalogue, and it was 
proposed that the semi-centennial anniversary of the presentation of 
the catalogue by Dr. Torrey to the Lyceum should be marked by a 
festival. Invitations were extended to the leading botanists of the 
country, many of whom promised to be present, and those who 
could not accept sent letters full of kindness to him who was the 
recipient of the intended honor. On the evening of December 20th, 
1867, which was marked by one of the most furious of snow-storms, 
there assembled at the Astor House the members of the Club and 
a goodly number of invited guests. 
The Club had then no officers, and by some process which has ever 
since remained a mystery, the one who now speaks to you pre- 
sided at the table and made an address, This address gave an 
account of the Catalogue of 1817 and an enumeration of the sub- 
sequent botanical works of its author. The recipient of the honor 
made a reply full of modesty and feeling, speeches were made by 
most of those present, and letters were read from those who were 
unable to attend. © 
I have thus alluded to this occasion, because it was the first pub- 
lic demonstration on the part of the Club, and one which, as the 
proceedings of the evening were published in the American Natu- 
alist, first made its existence generally known. 
As materials for the new catalogue accumulated and new helpers 
came into the field, it became necessary to have a medium through 
which the co-workers could communicate, and it was proposed to 
established a monthly Bulletin. The first number of the Bulletin 
appeared in January 1871, and it has since been continued with 
commendable regularity. Primarily devoted to matters relating 
to the catalogue, it has also given many botanical items of general 
Interest. The Bulletin is an unpretending sheet of only four pages, 
but when we compare its contents with journals devoted to scien- 
tific specialties, at home or abroad, we have reason for a just pride 
in the value of its contents, as well as in their variety and con- 
Ciseness, ‘ 
About the time the Bulletin was proposed, it was thought best 
the Club should adopt a distinctive name. That of “Torrey Botan- 
ical Club” seemed the most fitting. In those days we seldom put 
matters to vote; we “took the sense of the meeting. Soon after 
this we made a step towards organization, so far as to appoint Dr. 
John Torrey President, P. V. LeRoy Secretary, and William H. 
Leggett Editor. But, as we had been in the habit of conversing 
