34 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
Through this bequest, the Academy was put in possession of 
an important instrumentality for the promotion of scientific 
research, and nearly every year, for forty years, the Academy 
has granted one or more allotments for investigations in various 
branches of science, but chiefly in physics and astronomy. By 
1889 the number of allotments had risen to 79, amounting in all 
to more than $38,000. Professor Bache’s generous action has 
not only been of direct benefit to American science, but has sug- 
gested other bequests and donations to the Academy, through 
which research has been stimulated and aided. 
Besides the death of Professor Bache, other important changes 
had taken place in the membership of the Academy between 
1863 and 1867. Of the fifty incorporators eight had died, namely, 
Hubbard, Totten, Hitchcock, Benj. Silliman (senior), Gilliss, 
A. A. Gould, Bache and Alexander. Eleven members had 
resigned, and in accordance with the provisions of the consti- 
tution, two were constituted honorary members on account of 
age or remoteness from the places of meeting. 
The January meeting for 1867 was held as usual in Washing- 
ton and 17 members were present. Only seven papers were read 
at this meeting, the smallest number presented at any meeting 
since the organization of the Academy. Resolutions were 
again passed recommending that the metric system of weights 
and measures be taught in the public schools and higher institu- 
tions of learning; and, in addition, registering the opinion that 
it was highly desirable to employ metric weights in the post- 
offices ‘“‘ at the earliest convenient day.” 
At the August meeting of 1867 a resolution signed by eight 
members was offered, requesting that Congress should be asked 
to amend the act incorporating the Academy so that the member- 
ship could be increased beyond fifty. The resolution was dis- 
cussed at this meeting and referred to the Council. At the next 
session, on recommendation of the Council, it was rejected. The 
matter did not rest here, however, for at the meeting of April, 
1870, it was brought forward again, and this time unanimously 
adopted by the Academy. 
* Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. 1, p. 317. 
a a 
