568 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1895. 



lated the library which is now in the possession of the Academy. 

 Notwithstanding the old gentleman's lack of literary and scientific 

 training, there was a sufficient community of tastes between the two 

 to establish a close fellowship, the son's pursuits being encouraged 

 and his successes gloried in by the father. The premature and un- 

 expected death of Dr. Meigs occurred November 9th, 1879, in his 

 fiftieth year. 



Appreciative biographical notices of Dr. Meigs have been pub- 

 lished by Dr. H. C. Chapman in the Transactions of the College 

 of Physicians of Philadelphia, 3d Ser., Vol. V, and by Dr. George 

 Hamilton in the Transactions of the Medical Society of the State of 

 Pennsylvania for 1880, so that it is not necessary to dwell further on 

 the incidents of his career. The character of the library, as indicated 

 by the classification here given, is sufficient evidence of the extraordi- 

 nary catholicity of his tastes. 



After the sad bereavement, his father, with a natural desire to 

 remain surrounded by objects to which were attached such tender 

 associations, declined to part with either books or instruments. The 

 latter were carefully packed away, and the library remained just 

 as the son had left it, until the death of Mr. Meigs. 



Early in 1893 your Librarian was informed that a zealous but 

 indiscreet member of another society had assured Mr. Meigs that 

 the Academy not only did not desire possession of the library but, on 

 account of its miscellaneous character, would decline to receive it 

 were it offered. A statement of the utterly erroneous nature of 

 this assertion was immediately sent to Mr. Meigs, and in an inter- 

 view the following day he was assured that possession of at least the 

 scientific portion of the collection was earnestly desired, and that its 

 proper arrangement in connection with the Academy's library would 

 be a memorial of Dr. Meigs most in harmony with his own desire 

 and eminently fitting in view of his interest in the society and the 

 substantial benefits he had derived from his association with it. 



Mr. Meigs warmly expressed his sympathy with these views, but 

 at once stated that the library would not be given to any society 

 except on condition that it would be kept intact. His attention 

 having been called to the fact that the books were entirely unclassi- 

 fied and that their usefulness would be greatly increased if properly 

 grouped, he not only conceded this point but expressed his willingness 

 that the scientific works should be arranged in connection with the 



