66 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Mr. President and Gentlemen : — We are again called upon to mourn ; we meet here to 

 sympathize in our common sorrow. Science has lost a true friend ; her votaries, we 

 would reverently bow to the stroke, while we deeply feel and gratefully acknowledge the 

 goodness which so long averted the blow. He, Avho for the nine years has presided over 

 this institution with paternal solicitude — who has performed every duty devolving upon 

 him with the greatest cheerfulness, with unsurpassed fidelity — who with the enthusiasm of 

 youth, would not allow the most inclement night of the last most inclement season to 

 prevent his attendance at your meetings — but who was ever here to encourage you by his 

 presence to increased exertion — has accomplished his work. He has left us forever. 



He needs no fulsome eulogy. His claims upon the respectful and lasting remembrance 

 of his professional brethren have already, elsewhere, been most eloquently joortrayed. 

 The debt we owe his memory can never be repaid ; but, as naturalists, that debt we 

 should recognize. 



Upon the death of Dr. Amos Binney, our much loved President, Dr. Warren was se- 

 lected to succeed him. From the day of his appointment his interest never flagged, 

 but increased with his advancing years. 



His first great desire was to see our valuable collection displayed in a more safe and 

 commodious building — to accomplish which his efforts were indefatigable. A large por- 

 tion of the means required to purchase our present accommodations, was procured di- 

 rectly by him, and but for the influence he was enabled to exert in his social relations, 

 we could hardly have succeeded in our attempt. 



Dr. Warren's labors were principally directed to the great object of exciting and keep- 

 ing alive a taste for natural history, by constantly presenting its wonders to such minds 

 as he thought susceptible of being thus influenced. 



He delighted to gather ai^ound him those whose tastes were congenial — to enjoy with 

 such the beauties of his country seat — to extend its hospitalities. How many of us have 

 been made the happier by his yearly festival ! 



He has, however, done more than this. Three years since he prepared an address, 

 which was published, presenting a historj^ of the Society from its foundation. He became 

 exceedingly interested in palaeontology — he exerted himself to assist in procuring the 

 matrnificent slabs, containino; the ornithichnites from the Connecticut River, which orna- 

 ment our vestibule. He also made a most valuable private collection of these footprints, 

 and two years ago described some of the most striking of them in a small volume, with 

 the title, " Remarks on some Fossil Impressions in the Sandstone Rocks of Connecticut 

 River." At a great expense he pui'chased the most perfect skeleton of the Mastodon 

 giganteus now known to exist; and his elaborate work upon that subject will ever re- 

 main a moirument to his zeal, his industry, his munificence. 



Just previous to his decease, he had prepared a paper on the animal of the Argonauta, 

 all the available species of which genus he had collected, described and figured. This 

 memoir he had completed, the last page of manuscript having been corrected by him 

 within a week of his death. 



This Avas his last labor — his dying legacy to science. Let us cherish his memory ; and 

 upon this occasion, upon this altar, renew our devotion. 



