"Our distinguished fellow-citizen the Hon. Thomas Sumpter, 

 minister, resident at Brazils, has lately enriched the Museum of 

 the society, by presenting it with an extensive, splendid and very 

 valuable collection of minerals, birds, and insects of Chili and the 

 Brazils. The society are also in a very especial manner indebted 

 to the Hon. Joel R,. Poinsett, and the Hon. Henry Middleton, 

 Stephen Elliott, Esq., Messrs. MacClure, Caradeaux, and other 

 respectable individuals, for their valuable donations of specimens 

 in natural history, and for which, their names have been honor- 

 ably mentioned in the journals of the society." 



<<**** ^^Q society may be said to be in a flourishing condition. 

 It consists of 138 members, many of whom are of the first stand- 

 ing in society, and of acknowledged literary and scientific tal- 

 ents. Its Museum is rich in an extensive collection of minerals, 

 fossils and shells. The departments of Zoology, particularly 

 those of Ornithology, Erpetology, Ichthyology and Entomology, 

 are extensively filled. It is also rich in coins, medals and cast- 

 ings. The specimens of Art are also very considerable; and the 

 whole are arranged in the most appropriate order by their late 

 superintendent. 



"The library of the society, being for the most part confined 

 to books of science, is yet in its infancy. * * * * A fund is appro- 

 priated towards its particular establishment, which has been en- 

 riched by a donation of 750 dollars, from John Blake White, Esq., 

 one of its members. 



"Upon the whole, this society may be said to be established 

 upon such sure foundation, as cannot fail to ensure its ultimate 

 success, and we look forward with pleasing anticipations to that 

 period, when it will rank among the most useful and respectable 

 institutions of the kind in America." 



Surely nowhere else in America was there at this time so am- 

 bitious a museum, so generously supported, yet in 1819 we learn 

 that Dr. L'Herminier found it impossible to make a living in 

 Charleston and returned to Guadaloupe. He had been superin- 

 tendent of the Museum, but in spite of the great interest of the 



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