Proceedings of the Academy. 185 



a committee consisting of Dr. E. B. Wolcott and Dr. -Joseph 

 Hobbins to notify the said officers of the Academy of their elec- 

 tion, and to conduct the President thereof to the chair, 

 The Convention dissolved. 



FIRST MEETING OF THE ACADEMY. 



Pursuant to call, made at the instant of the dissolution of the 

 convention of citizens met to organize the same, the Wisconsin 

 Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters convened in the place 

 of said Convention at 9 o'clock P. M. of same day (Feb. 16.) 



On assuming the chair, President Hoyt said: 



While lie felt hii^iiiy honored by the iinanimoiis expression of the wish of its mem- 

 bers that he should preside over the Institution, in the I'ormation of which all gentlemen 

 present had shared, and was sincerely siratei'iil to them tor their confidence, he was pro- 

 foundly sensible of the grave responsibilities involved in an acceptance of the position. 

 Pioneer work was laborious in whatever field, but especially so in the founding and up- 

 building of institutions devoted to a work of which the body of the peoplecould hardly 

 be expected to have a just appreciation. Academics devoted to original recearch were 

 the forerunners of a hisher civilization. It was rarely that their services were recog- 

 nized at their tnje value at the time, but without them the world would make but slow 

 progress. He was glad that the proposition to loKnd such an institution in Wisconsin 

 liadbeen received with warm approbation, and desired to congratulate the members of 

 the Academy that it had pleased them to adopt a plan of organization so broad and com- 

 prehensive as to include every class of searchers after knowledge. The Convention had 

 manifested an intelligence, unanimity and enthusiasm worthy of the cause sought to be 

 advanced, and it now only remained to push on the work with vigor and resolution. 

 Each member must consider himself a committee responsible for the advance- 

 ment of the Academy's interests in his own locality as well as throughout the 

 range of his acquaintance, and by every means in his power. Should this be the case, 

 the organization of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters would be no- 

 table in the future as the inauguration of a new era in the history of the State. He ac- 

 cepted the responsible and laborious position of President, in the belief that he would 

 not be denied the hearty o-operation he so earnestly craved, and with the purpose to do 

 everything in his power to make the Academy successful in every respect and in an 

 eminent degree. 



At the conclusion of the President's remarks, it was moved 

 by Ex. Gov. Dewey that the Academy proceed at once to the 

 election of a Director of the Museum, a Librarian, and of the 

 constitutional departmental officers for the Department of the 

 Sciences; and that, in the absence of By-Laws regulating the 

 mode of procedure, such election be viva voce., on nominations 

 made by any member of the Academy, The motion prevailed, 

 and the following officers were duly elected: 



Director of the 3Iuseum—Wm. Dudley, Esq. 



Librarian — Hon. .T. G, Knapp. 



Vice President of the Department of Sciences^ and ex-officio a Vice President of the 

 Academy— JiT. P. R. Hoy. 



Secretary of the Department of the Sciertces— Col. S. V. Shipmao. 



Counsellors for the Department— Proi. T. C. Chamberlin, Dr. E. B. Wolcott, Dr. R. Z. 

 Mason. 



The Treasurer was authorized to purchase the necessary books 

 of record. 



The President having given notice that a meeting of the Gen- 

 eral Council would be held in this place at 9 o'clock on the fol- 

 lowing morning, for the purpose of adopting By-Laws for the 

 government of the institution, the Academy adjourned 0)'</?e c?ie. 



