FOUNDING OF THE ACADEMY II 
‘My impression is that these two men originated the idea of having a general 
scientific society for the whole country which, as far as our democratic institutions 
would allow, in imitation of those of Europe, should be under the patronage of 
the government. ‘This idea was probably broached as early as 1862. Of course 
two men by themselves could not originate an academy and soon others were 
drawn into the project. Bache, Henry, B. A. Gould and Agassiz were invited 
to take part. It was decided that 50 should be the number of the members of 
the new scientific body.” 
Others besides those already mentioned should be perhaps 
included among the founders of the Academy, but it is certain 
that not all who were named as incorporators participated in the 
movement. We know that in several instances persons so named 
were unaware that they had been designated until they had re- 
ceived a letter from Senator Wilson advising them that they 
were included in the list. One of the incorporators declined 
membership in the Academy. It appears from the letters of 
Davis that the list was made up at the preliminary meeting held 
at the house of Professor Bache on February 19, 1863, or soon 
afterwards, and caused some dissatisfaction when published in 
the bill of incorporation. 
It is perhaps an unnecessary task to endeavor to determine 
who should be considered the head and front of the Academy 
movement, but judging from contemporary evidence, this dis- 
tinction probably belongs to Professor Bache. Arnold Guyot 
speaks of him as “the enlightened and far-seeing head of the 
Coast Survey ” and “ the founder of this Academy.” ™ 
E. S. Morse remarks: “‘ Agassiz, Bache and Henry were the 
leading spirits in originating the National Academy of 
Sciences.” ** The address delivered by Professor Bache at 
Albany in 1851, a portion of which is quoted above (p. 7), con- 
tains the first definite plan for the particular kind of academy 
which was organized twelve years later. Doubtless many of its 
features had been suggested by Bache’s associates and friends, 
and we know, indeed, that it was a frequent subject of discussion 
among the scientific men of America for many years. Bache 
himself remarked in 1863 that the need of such a body as the 
* Biogr. Mem. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. 2, 1886, p. 70. 
* Pop. Sci. Monthly, vol. 71, 1907, p. 548. 
