52 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Storer, Mrs. Binney, Dr. H. B. Storer and others. The collection contained 360 species, 

 all reported in good condition. 



The Library now contained 1320 volumes, and 213 pamphlets. 



The Treasurer's account showed a balance of cash in his hands of |124.98, and an 

 amount of $1100 due from subscribers to the Building, not paid. There was yet due by 

 the Society on account of the Building, debts to the amount of about $4500. 



The changes among the officers this year, Avere in C. C. Sheafe being chosen Cabinet 

 Keeper ; Francis Alger being made Curator of Mineralogy, and Dr. S. Kneeland, Jr., of 

 Comparative Anatomy. 



This year a proposition was made by an Association called "A Republican Institution " 

 to deposit the books possessed by it in our library, and to grant for the use of the Society 

 one half of a fund belonging to the Institution, of over $2500, for the purchase of such 

 works upon Natural History as the Society might select, with the understanding that the 

 other half should be expended upon works of History, Biography, Geography, Politics 

 and Finance ; and that the whole, together with other books now owned by them, should 

 be placed in our library on deposit ; provided that the members of the Association should 

 have the same privileges in the use of the Society's library, as the members of the So- 

 ciety. This proposition was accepted, and the sum of $1300 was placed in the hands of 

 the Treasurer for purchase of books on natural history. 



Another event very gratifying to the members occurred this year. This was the mu- 

 nificent donation of two thousand dollars, made by Mr. Jonathan Phillips of Boston. By 

 this most timely and helpful act, the Treasurer was enabled to pay the debts of the So- 

 ciety, and to have the satisfaction of reporting it free from all encumbrances. 



Most heartily the Council passed a vote of thanks, which was conveyed to Mr. Phillips 

 in a letter signed by the President and Secretary of the Society. 



1850. In the early part of this year the Society was called upon to mourn the loss of 

 one of the original members of the Society, Dr. Martin Gay. He was a man of learning, 

 and ardently devoted to science and art ; of strict integrity, and of singular purity of 

 life and thought. Perha|3s the writer of these pages can give no better idea of him than 

 by repeating from the records of the Society, the words in which he gave utterance to 

 his feelings upon the announcement of the sad event. 



"'With Dr. Gay I was indeed most intimate, and I express, therefore, what I know, when 

 I claim for him a degree of virtue, a nobleness of purpose, an exaltation of character, far 

 beyond what is generally found in man. Conscientious to a great degree, every deed per- 

 formed by him, every judgment given, first received the sanction of the highest senti- 

 ments of his soul ; and, long as I have known him, I never heard him express an impure 

 thought. Loving God, and loving man, his desire was to enlarge his own being that he 

 might the better serve both. Too great by nature and culture to confine his regard to 

 those of a class, or a sect, all who sought his friendship and were worthy, found in him 

 ready sympathy. The bickerings and the jealousies that trouble smaller men, never 

 reached him ; Imt yet he was always ready to advocate manfully the cause that appeared 

 to him just. Without guile, transparent to all whose motives were kindred to his own, he 

 inspired and enjoyed the confidence of the community. His attainments were of a high 

 order. Love of the beautiful in nature and art, and in spirit, was a ruling trait of his 



