1879.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 433 



which reasons for the appeal ore stated. Several subscriptions 

 have been received and promised, making an aggregate of about 

 $3000, or about one-twentieth of the amount considered to be 

 necessary. 



The financial condition of the Academy is fully stated in the 

 report of the Treasurer. 



Two young men have been recipients of the benefits of the 

 Jessup Fund, one during the entire year, and the other for nine 

 months. The application of this fund has been so beneficent in 

 the past as to suggest that additional scholarships or fellowships 

 of the same kind would contribute largely to the general progress 

 of the natural sciences in this community. 



The extent of increase of the museum and of the library, and 

 their condition, are stated in the annual reports of the curators 

 and the librarian. 



The annual reports of the several sections of the Academ}' in- 

 dicate that they are active and prosperous. 



The Biological and Microscopical section gave a public reception 

 on the first Monday of April, and a second on the first Monday 

 of November. The Entomological section participated in the last. 

 It is estimated that more than two thousand ladies and gentle- 

 men were present at each reception, and all seemed pleased. 

 Receptions of the kind are believed to be advantageous to the 

 general interests of the Societ % y. 



The average attendance at the meetings has been 32; the most 

 numerous, Feb. 4, 109, and the least, July 15 and August 26, 14. 



Although well known to the few old members still living, it 

 may be well on this occasion to recall part of the old story of the 

 foundation of the Academy. 



All the founders and early members were not at the time 

 masters, or even advanced students, in any department of natural 

 history. They were, generally speaking, young men whose liveli- 

 hood depended upon the profits of their daily avocations men 

 who, though possibly not qualified to be professors, were learned 

 enough to discern that they might lessen their own ignorance of 

 natural things by employing their leisure together, in a joint way 

 to learn what others already knew, and possibly add something 

 to the common stock of knowledge. 



The first formal meeting for organization, January 25, 1812, is 

 recorded as a " meeting of gentlemen, friends of science and of 



