PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



ACADEMY* OF NATURAL SCIENCES 



OF PHILADELPHIA.. 

 Vol. III. MAY AND JUNE, 1847. No. 9. 



Stated Meeting, May 4, 1847. 



The Society convened this evening, for the first time, in the 

 new and commodious Library and Meeting Room in the 

 basement of their Hall. On this occasion, Vice-President 

 Morton, upon taking the Chair, addressed the Society as 

 follows : 



Gentlemen, As we now meet here for the first time, and 

 under circumstances highly auspicious to the success of our In- 

 stitution and to the interests of science, 1 beg to be indulged in a 

 few remarks. 



On the evening of the 25th of January, 1812, six gentlemen 

 met at a private residence, the home of one of them, in this city. 

 Their objects were, conversation and improvement. They had 

 often met before, but without any definite intention ; but they 

 we're now incited by a new impulse, a prospective enterprise. 

 Let them speak for themselves, in the following brief but emphatic 

 declaration : 



" We will contribute to the formation of a museum of natural 

 history, a library of works of science, a chemical experimental 

 laboratory, an experimental philosophical apparatus, and every 

 other desirable appendage or convenience for the illustration and 

 advancement of natural knowledge, and for the common benefit 

 of all those individuals who may be admitted members of our In- 

 stitution." 



This resolve waa adopted at the second meeting of the found- 

 ers, one week after their primary sitting, on which occasion 



29 ' 



