336 [Dec. 1S47. 



valuable and interesting verbal communications by different members of the 

 Academy, have also been published in the Proceedings. 



The following alterations in the By-Laws have been made, viz. 



Art. VII. of Chap. VII. to read as follows : " Members may borrow books, 

 the property of the Academy, from the Librarian, on signing a promissory 

 note for fifty dollars, which shall become void on the book being returned." 



Art. VIII. of same Chapter : " But no works shall be loaned from the 

 Hall on any account whatever, except those marked with an asterisk (thus*) 

 in the catalogue, unless by an affirmative ballot vote of three fourths of the 

 members present when the application is made ; and in case of deposited 

 books, the written consent of the depositor having been previously obtained, 

 the name of the borrower and the title of the book to be recorded on the 

 Minutes, and security given for its safe return, by note or otherwise, for the 

 full value thereof, according to the estimate of the Librarian or Library 

 Committee." 



Since the last Annual Report, the affairs of the Academy have been in an 

 exceedingly flourishing condition. An addition of thirty feet has been made 

 to the building, and the sessions of the Academy are held in the Library, a 

 comfortable apartment in the basement of this addition a great improve- 

 ment over the immense room in which its meetings were formerly held. 

 During the past year, the lecture room has been altered and adapted to the 

 purposes of the Museum an alteration greatly needed in consequence of 

 the immense increase in the different departments through the munificent 

 donations and deposits lately received by this Institution. A report on 

 the state of these departments belongs more properly to other officers of the 

 Society ; it will therefore be sufficient here simply to state, that during the 

 period embraced by this report, a greater impetus has been given to the 

 Academy than it has received at any previous period of its existence. Du- 

 ring the last two years, thanks to the noble liberality of a generous member, 

 and to the exertions of others, it has made such rapid strides that, in the 

 language of one of our Vice Presidents, " an hundred years of ordinary 

 prosperity could not have realized so much." It has completely thrown all 

 lethargy aside ; and, fully aroused and energetic, is now performing its full 

 quota towards the cause of scientific discovery and research. 

 All of which is respectfully submitted by 



JOHN LAMBERT, 



Recording Secretary. 

 December 28, 1847. 



