REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 



Since the last report, May 10, 1876, the Academy has lost by 

 death fifteen members, as follows : four Fellows, Nicholas 

 St. John Green, W. A. Stearns, Emory Washburn, and 

 Edward Wigglesworth ; five Associate Fellows, Alexis Cas- 

 well, Charles H. Davis, Charles Davies, Fielding B. Meek, 

 and Charles Wilkes; six foreign Honorary Members, Braun, 

 Ehrenberg, Hofmeister, Lassen, Poggendorff, and Von Baer. 



NICHOLAS ST. JOHN GREEN. 



Mr. Nicholas St, John Green, Professor at the Boston Law 

 School, and formerly lecturer at the Harvard Law School, died at 

 Cambridge, on the 8th of September last. Although his name was 

 only beginning to be known to the public, yet, to the eyes of his asso- 

 ciates, he occupied, at the time of his death, as important a position in 

 the field of jurisjjrudence as did the equally lamented Chauncey 

 Wright in that of philosophy ; and in the sudden deaths so near 

 together of these intimate friends in the prime of life, the Academy 

 has lost two of its most gifted members. 



In the early practice of his profession, Mr. Green acquired a critical 

 knowledge of the criminal law ; and he undoubtedly started with a 

 superstitious respect for the technical element which still prevails in 

 that part of the law. In fact, it would seem evident that, as a younger 

 man, he must have held a good many of the prejudices, legal and polit- 

 ical, which are natural to a strong nature unchastened by learning and 

 reflection. But his reason was stronger even than his temperament ; 

 and as time went on, and he became a student of history, political 

 economy, psychology, and logic, prejudice gave way to philosophy, and 

 his convictions, without losing in strength, were tempered by an appre- 

 ciation of the other side which powerful men do not always acquire. 

 VOL. XII. (y. s. IV.) 19 



