19 



unassisted efforts, to accomplish in the brief period comprised 

 within the limits of a single human life. 



It has gathered into its museum more than 400,000 specimens 

 of natural histoiy, man}' of them unique, and not to be replaced by 

 any expenditure of money, time, or labor. It has created a grand 

 library, containing nearly 23,000 volumes, many of which are not 

 to be found in any other library in the United States. Of some 

 of them duplicates cannot be procured at any price. This library, 

 which is one of reference exclusively, is of incalculable value to 

 men of science in this countiy. It is constantly consulted not 

 only by persons residing in this city, but also by students from 

 all parts of the United States ; not only by its own members, but 

 by man}' others engaged in scientific research ; for the society, 

 true to the principles of its founders, true to their desire to diffuse 

 knowledge as much as possible, has never refused permission to 

 any respectable persons to consult its treasures freely. 



The Academy, early recognizing the importance of contributing 

 to the common stock of knowledge any discoveries in natural 

 science made by its members, issued, in May, 1817, the first num- 

 ber of a journal of its transactions. The first series of this jour- 

 nal terminated in 1842, and consisted of 8 octavo volumes, of 

 2912 pages, containing 237 papers contributed by 56 authors, and 

 illustrated by 161 plates. In 1841 another publication known as 

 the " Proceedings," was commenced. Up to the present time, 22 

 volumes, each averaging 400 pages, and containing the verbal, 

 and many of the written, communications made at the meetings 

 of the society, have been published. In 1847 a second series of 

 the "Journal" was begun in quarto form. Seven volumes of 2820 

 pages in the aggregate, and containing 116 articles, contributed 

 by 50 authors, and illustrated by 318 well-executed lithographic 

 plates, have appeared. In 1865 the Academy, through its con- 

 chological section, commenced the publication of another serial, 

 the " American Journal of Conchology." Of this, seven volumes 

 have been issued, containing in the aggregate 2500 pages of 

 printed matter, illustrated by 150 plates, many of them colored, 

 besides about 1000 wood engravings. These publications are ex- 

 changed with about 200 scientific and philosophical institutions 

 located in the United States and South America, in Europe, Asia, 

 and Liberia. While serving as a medium for the dissemination 

 of a large amount of technical knowledge hitherto unknown or 



