THE PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY. 535 



Maelure to New Harmony, where he remained as agent after the failure, 

 until his death in 1827. Thomas Say was the father of American en- 

 tomology, and his papers on other departments of zoology were nu- 

 merous and valuable. 



The first meetings of the Academy were held at the house of Mr. 

 Speakman, and afterward a few occurred in a public-house known as 

 the " Mercers' Cake-Shop," but, as custom demanded that all frequent- 

 ing the place should become patrons, and fearing that the society 

 would forsake the paths of science and degenerate into a gastronomic 

 club, more secluded quarters were secured over a millinery-store on 

 Second Street, near Race, and there was formed the nucleus of the 

 present large library and collections. Dr. John Barnes was the first 

 member elected, and it is related that, on the occasion of his first tak- 

 ing his seat as a member, the seven founders, who had constituted 

 themselves a committee of management, withdrew to transact some 

 business, leaving him alone to constitute a meeting of the Academy. 

 In the first year of its existence the society came in possession of the 

 Seybert collection of minerals, at a cost of $750. 



The growth of the collections soon demanded increased accommo- 

 dations, and a larger room was hired, on the opposite side of the street, 

 which was occupied until August, 1815, when the society moved into 

 a building erected for them on Arch Street, near Second. In 1817 a 

 charter was obtained, and the same year the publication of a journal 

 containing the scientific papers pi'esented to the Academy was begun. 

 In 1826 the library and museum had again outgrown their quarters, 

 and the Swedenborgian church, at the corner of Twelfth and Sansom 

 Streets, was purchased and adapted to the needs of the society at a cost 

 of about S6,000. Several members opposed the purchase of this prop- 

 erty, and Mr. Maelure, when called upon to subscribe, at first declined, 

 giving as a reason his belief that the " community system " would pre- 

 vail, Philadelphia be deserted, and that those who lived long enough 

 would " see the foxes looking out of the windows." He eventually 

 gave several hundred dollars. This building was occupied by the 

 Academy fourteen years, when a return of the old trouble, a lack of 

 room, necessitated a new building, which was accordingly erected on 

 the corner of Broad and Sansom Streets, and first occupied in Feb- 

 ruary, 1840. Seven years later it was found necessary to enlarge the 

 building, to accommodate the Due di Rivoli collection of birds, num- 

 bering 12,000 specimens, which were presented by Dr. Wilson, who 

 also bore the expense of the enlargement. The building was again en- 

 larged in 1854~'55, the expense being borne by subscription. In 1868 

 a lot was purchased on Nineteenth, Race, and Cherry Streets, contain- 

 ing more than an acre, at a cost of 865,000. The corner-stone of a 

 new building was laid with appropriate ceremonies October 30, 1872. 

 The society held their first meeting in this edifice January 11, 1876. 



The portion of the building at present erected and occupied by the 



