1895.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 569 



appropriate sections of the main library, if the gift were made to the 

 Academy, but that before considering farther the propriety of mak- 

 ing such gift or bequest he must be assured that none of the volumes 

 would be parted with by sale or otherwise, but that, apart from the 

 conceded arrangement of the scientific works, the rest of the collec- 

 tion should be kept together permanently as the James Aitken 

 Meigs Library. This condition was accepted on behalf of the 

 Academy by your Librarian in the presence of Mr. Meigs' friend, 

 Dr. R. K. Hinton, and his housekeeper, Miss Lizzie Rogers. 



A few days later the will was made, leaving to the Academy the 

 books, scientific instruments and the sum of $20,000, one-half of 

 which is for the exclusive benefit of the library. The other half is 

 left without restriction or condition and has not yet been specifically 

 appropriated by the Council. Mr. Meigs died May 10th, 1895, and 

 the library was shortly after removed to the Academy. It is con- 

 fidently believed that the legacy depended on the agreement made 

 with Mr. Meigs regarding the custodianship of the library. It is 

 therefore held to' be incumbent on the Academy to act in conformity 

 with this understanding, although the wording of the will grants a 

 greater degree of liberty. 



The scientific portions of the James Aitken Meigs Library have 

 been placed, as far as the present supply of case-room will permit, 

 with the appropriate sections of the general library, the volumes 

 being appropriately labelled ; while the works on literature, philoso- 

 phy, history, religion, etc., have been arranged temporarily in the 

 Council room. The duplicates will ultimately be placed in the 

 main library, when the Academy will, of course, be at liberty to dis- 

 pose of the works replaced by them. 



The late John H. Redfield, as a farther evidence of his long- con- 

 tinued interest in the botanical department of the Academy, directed 

 by will the sale of his scientific library and collections, the receipts 

 to be invested for the benefit of the Botanical Section. The books 

 have been disposed of at auction. The duplicates included in the 

 Meehan gift were sold at the same time by direction of Mr. Mee- 

 han, the sum realized to be applied to the same object: the in- 

 crease of that which, by resolution of the Botanical Section, is to be 

 known as the John H. Redfield Fund. 



Through the foresight of the Corresponding Secretary a new 

 section, which cannot fail to be of importance to the Department 



