18 



away from their quiet pursuits to act as volunteers in defence of 

 the city; and how, finally, notwithstanding the zealous efforts 

 that had been made to advance the interests of the Academy and 

 obtain for it the public support it deserved, the list of its members 

 at the end of three years contained but twenty -five names. In 

 1820 the society numbered one hundred members and one hundred 

 and ninety correspondents, and began, for the first time in its 

 career, to be favorabby recognized by the cultivators of natural 

 knowledge in Europe as well as America. The lot and building 

 at the southeast corner of Twelfth and Sansom streets having 

 been purchased with funds supplied by Mr. Maclure and other 

 members, the Academy moved to this locality in Ma}', 1826. 

 Thirteen years afterwards the collections had increased so much as 

 to require still larger space for their accommodation. Accordingly, 

 the present site at the southwest corner of Broad and Sansom 

 Streets was secured, and a large and commodious edifice erected 

 through the munificence mainly of its large-hearted president, the 

 late Mr. William Maclure. The building was enlarged in 1847, at 

 the expense of another benefactor of the Academj', the late Dr. 

 Thomas B. Wilson ; and again in 1855, by means of a fund raised 

 by subscription among the members and their friends. In this 

 building the sessions of the Academy have been held for the last 

 thirty-two years, during which time its utility as an educational 

 institution, and as a centre of scientific research, has been steadily 

 increasing. 



Thus slowly and laboriously advancing, encountering many ob- 

 stacles, now succumbing to them and anon overcoming them, 

 constantly embarrassed by the want of funds, deriving no assist- 

 ance from either the State or municipal government, except ex- 

 emption from taxation, and obtaining but little aid outside of the 

 immediate circle of its members, the Academ} r , after the lapse of 

 little more than half a century, has become famous in the great 

 republic of science, has achieved an enviable reputation not only 

 in this country, but in the Old World, as a chief focus of scientific 

 activity in the United States. As such, as the champion of edu- 

 cation of a special kind, as the earnest promoter of natural knowl- 

 edge, it deserves the respect and hearty support of the citizens of 

 Philadelphia. 



Listen, I pray you, to what the society has been able b\ r its own 



