OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 163 



Four hundred and fifth, meeting^. 



October 10, 1854. — Monthly Meeting. 



The Corresponding Secretary in the chair. 



Professor Agassiz called the attention of the Academy to 

 the recent decease of one of the Fellows, Dr. Waldo I. Bur- 

 nett, and made the following remarks : — 



" I rise to perform a sad duty, which, but for my absence, I would 

 have performed sooner. The American Academy of Arts and Sci- 

 ences has sustained a severe loss by the death of its associate, Dr. 

 W. I. Burnett, who, after a protracted illness, expired of consumption. 

 Dr. Burnett had hardly yet entered upon the stage of active life when 

 disease began to shake his constitution ; but such was his devotion to 

 science, such his zeal and perseverance, that, in a state of health which 

 would have prostrated most men, he was unceasingly active and in- 

 dustrious. The consciousness of the probably short duration of his 

 life, of which he spoke occasionally, and always with the greatest 

 calmness, seems to have been a powerful stimulus for him to leave 

 nothing within his reach undone which might advance the cause of 

 science, and secure for himself an honorable place among its devotees. 

 In this respect his short life has been most exemplary. He not only 

 made his way by himself, but he devoted every moment of his time 

 to the increase of his knowledge, rather than to the improvement of 

 his worldly condition. His efforts were crowned with the fullest suc- 

 cess, and the papers he has communicated to the Academy, one 

 of which is already published in its Memoirs, and his other scientific 

 contributions, will ever bear testimony to his industry and skill. He 

 was one of the few among us extensively conversant with the whole 

 range of foreign publications upon the subjects with which he was 

 engaged. In his intercourse with his fellow-laborers in the field of 

 science he was modest, unpretending, and ever willing to aid others. 

 As a friend he was true and open. All these amiable and distin- 

 guished qualities make his departure from among us a real loss to all 

 true lovers of science. I therefore move that the Academy pass the 

 following resolutions, as expressive of its sense of his great moral 

 worth and scientific eminence. 



" Resolved, That the Academy feels deeply the loss of its distin- 

 guished associate, Dr. W. I. Burnett, who, by his untii'ing industry, 

 his great scientific accomplishments, and his amiable personal quali- 



