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was a necessity for founding the Academy, although the Philosophical 

 Society existed in the same city for the same objects, so now there was 

 a like necessity for founding the Entomological Society, although 

 both these old institutions existed with the same objects in view. 

 He saw that entomology should occupy a higher regard, and receive 

 a more vigorous treatment, than that bestowed by them. He saw 

 that though the insects are small, yet altogether they are great. " The 

 locust, the caterpillar, the canker-worm and the palmer-worm are God's 

 terrible army." He saw that insects are praeticallj- as important as 

 any other class of animals, and he saw, that scientifically considered, 

 they are the most important class, because the number of their species 

 is probably four times greater than that of all the other classes together. 

 The beginning of the Entomological Society was most unpromising. 

 As a society it did not even aspire to have a library, or a museum of 

 insects, or a permanent hall of its own. Dr. Wilson showed the great- 

 ness of his mind in appreciating the men, in uniting them together more 

 closely, in placing before them soul-stirring objects, and finally in call- 

 ing out the efforts of the entomologists of the whole country from one 

 end of the United States to the other. For several years he worked 

 with them quietly and unobserved, and the society was almost unknown 

 except among entomologists. There were wise men and great men in 

 the Academy at the time of the formation of the Entomological Soci- 

 ety, but none were greater and wiser than he. When, as in the case 

 of George Washington, a man's greatness lies in his judgment, in his 

 wisdom for managing great affairs, he can be appreciated only by a 

 very narrow circle, unless some great emergency call him forth, or 

 unless the powerful promptings of his own benevolent disposition urge 

 him to undertake great things. Then his greatness is measured by the 

 deeds he has done and the way they are done. The way, the manner 

 of Dr. Wilson, could not have been better. His example will be effec- 

 tive for a long time to come. In small things, in the countless details 

 of founding and conducting large societies, his wisdom was as striking 

 as in extensive designs. A single instance of these minor matters can 

 alone be mentioned. An influential member of the Academy proposed 

 to him to have the floors of the rooms in the lower story covered with 

 matting, the bare boards appearing rather unseemly. No, he promptly 

 replied, the gas-burners and the gentleman's cigars and pipes are lighted 

 with matches, and they or the ignited tobacco, falling on the dry mat- 

 ting, might easily burn up this building and all its contents. 



His general health was good, and he was capable of a large amount 



