JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 171 



moires, 7e. Serie, T. III. 2-9, 1860, from the Academy. Schriften der Ge- 

 selhch. zur Bef'orderung des gesammten Naturw., Marburg, Band \ III. 

 1857, Band VI.--VII. 1848-9$ Theorie der Curven, von Dr. W. Schell, 

 Leipzig, 1859; Acht Tafeln zur Physisch-med. Topographie, von C. F, 

 Danz und C. F. Fuchs, Marburg, 1848; Wetterauer Gesellschaft fur 

 Naturk.,1858 ; Beitrag zur Geschich. der Foetus im Foetus, von Schwartz, 

 Marburg. 1860,/rom the Society. ViertHjahrschrift der naturf. Gesellsch 

 Zurich, Jahrg. III. Heft 3-4, IV. 1-4, V. 1-4, 1858-00, from the Society. 

 Amer. Jour. Sci. & Arts, Nov. 1861, purchased. 



Dr. Hilgard presented a colored engraving of the Mont 

 Blanc chain from La Flegere, by Prof. Redtenbacher. 



The Reports of the Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer 

 for 1S61 were read, referred, and accepted. 



The President read the following Annual Report of the 

 Progress of the Academy for the year 1861 : 



The Sixth Anniversary of our Academy imposes upon me the duty of 

 laying before the members an abstract of our condition and our progress 

 during the past year. And an extraordinary year it was ! Our hitherto 

 happy and prosperous country thrown into a civil war, and no part of 

 it, perhaps, more torn and lacerated than our own State; a State which, 

 more than any other had an interest and a desire to remain at peace! 



How could Science prosper in this distracted state of public as well as 

 private affairs? Nevertheless, I am happy to bear witness that those 

 members of our Academy who, since their joining our Institution, had 

 always proved its most zealous and most reliable supporters, did not 

 abate in their zeal. The attractions of Science proved more powerful 

 than the distractions of our public affairs. 



Our semi-monthly meetings were regularly attended, and were made 

 interesting as well as instructive, by the exhibition of numerous scientific 

 objects, and by the reading of essays, and by scientific communications 

 and discussions. 



But our finances, as the Treasurer's Report shows, did not keep pace 

 with our scientific wants, and thus we were prevented from issuing 

 another number of our Transactions, in regular course, and not for a 

 want of material, for we have a number of valuable scientific communi- 

 cations on hand, with which we might enrich and extend the domain of 

 Science, and gratify our numerous correspondents in this and other lands, 

 but for the want of the comparatively small sum of a few hundred dollars 

 to pay for their publication. 



We have, however — and I believe I do not use too strong a term- 

 entered into a sacred engagement with the world of Science, and especi- 

 ally with more than 200 scientific bodies in this country, in Europe, and 

 in more distant continents, which have honored us with their correspon- 

 dence, and which are, in the most liberal manner, loading the shelves of 

 our library with their publications in exchange for ours, although in most 

 instances much more extensive and costly than our modest Transactions. 

 We owe it to them, we owe it to ourselves, to continue the publication of 

 at least one annual number of our proceedings. And permit me here 

 to remind the citizens of this great metropolis, usually so open-handed, 

 that the stamp of Science, the supp >rt of a scientific Institution, known 

 and appreciated among other peoples and in other climes, would not be 

 among the least valuable ornaments in their civic crown. Do not let the 

 invidious taunt us with the ruin of our city, and instance, among other 

 proofs, the downfall, the silence at least, of our scientific institutions. 

 No ! It will be considered as a proof of the vitality of St. Louis— a proof 

 of the energy of her citizens, if, even in this dire period of her history, we 

 shall continue, or rather resume our publications. And, indeed, it is un- 

 derstood, as I am permitted to inform you, that through the liberality of 



