1855.] 255 



January 2d, 1855. 

 Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



A letter was read from Mr. Joseph Harrison, Jr., dated Jan. 2, 1855, 

 accompanying the donation from him acknowledged this evening. 



On leave granted, the Committee appointed at last meeting to prepare 

 a memorial to Congress soliciting aid to Dr. Kane and his companions 

 in their Arctic peril, reported the following memorial, which was 

 adopted. 



To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the XJnited 



States in Congress assembled. 



The Memorial of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, respect- 

 fully represents : 



That Dr. Kane, a member of the Academy, and his companions, may at this 

 moment be in urgent need of the protecting hand of those in whose power alone 

 it is possible to give material aid. 



Knowing well the prudence and perseverance of Dr. Kane, it cannot be doubted 

 that he has taken all the precautions possible for the safety of those who have 

 been placed under his charge in the perilous and benevolent voyage which he has 

 undertaken for the relief of that intrepid traveller Sir John Franklin. But it is 

 now known that Sir John is removed beyond all human alleviation of calamity, 

 and Dr. Kane and his companions, your memorialists believe, now stand in need 

 of that alleviation and support which they so generously volunteered at the risk 

 of their lives, in toiling over dreary wastes, and in braving the rigors of a polar 

 winter, as well as the storms of an Arctic sea. 



Your memorialists fear that the cause of the delay of the return of Dr. Kane 

 may arise from one of those acccidents so incident to Polar voyages, the crush- 

 ing and destruction of his vessel by the ice, in which case a relief expedition 

 can alone in all probability mitigate his destitution and distress, and save him. 



Your memorialists respectfully, but earnestly solicit that the earliest possi- 

 ble succour may be afforded to Dr. Kane and his companions. 



On motion, the Secretary was directed to prepare copies of the above, 

 to be signed by the officers of the Society and transmitted to Congress. 



On motion of Dr. Rand, the thanks of the Academy were presented 

 to Mr. Joseph Harrison, Jr., of this city, for his valuable donation of 

 portraits of Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, received this 

 evening. 



January lftth. 

 Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



Letters were read : 



From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, dated Dec. 4, 

 1854; 



From the Acad. C. L. C Nat. Curiosorum, dated Breslau, 26th 

 Oct., 1854; 



From the Geneva Natural History Society, dated 7th of November, 

 1854, and 



From the Wurtemberg Verein fiir vaterlandische Naturkund., dated 

 Stuttgart, 21st Nov., 1854, severally acknowledging the receipt of the 

 Proceedings and Journal of the Academy. 



PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. VOL. VII. NO. VII. 21 



