A54- [December. 



Stated Meeting, December 2, 1864, 



Present, twenty-six members. 



Judge Sharswood, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Hilgard, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Joseph Lesley and Presi- 

 dent Smith, of Girard College, were introduced to the pre- 

 siding officer, and took their seats as members. Captain 

 Goodman, of the New Hampshire Historical Society, and 

 Mr. L. Thurlow, of Wilkesbarre, were also introduced. 



A letter addressed to the President by a claimant for the 

 Magellanic Premium, but without the required sealed packet, 

 accompanying the claim, was read, and on motion, laid on 

 the table. It described an invention for the safety of pas- 

 sengers at sea, and was illustrated by a model. 



A letter accepting membership was received from Mr. R. 

 H. Lamborn, dated Altoona, November 17th, 1864. 



Donations for the Library were received from the New 

 Hampshire Historical Society ; the Franklin Institute ; Cap- 

 tain Goodman, and Mr. Lamborn. 



The death of the Hon. Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice of 

 the United States, a member of this Society, on the 12th 

 day of October, 1864, aged 87 years, was announced by the 

 Secretary, and on motion, Judge Sharswood was appointed 

 to write an obituary notice of the deceased. 



The death of Professor Benjamin Silliman, a member of 

 this Society, at New Haven, November 25th, 1864, aged 

 eighty-four years, Avas announced by the Secretary, and Pro- 

 fessor Pierce appointed to prepare an obituary notice of the 

 deceased. 



A photograph and description of the Great Pittsburg Gun, 

 now mounted at Fort Hamilton, was communicated by Mr. 

 Lamborn, with the following letter from Mr. Charles Knap, 

 dated Fort Pitt Foundry, Pittsburg, November 4th, 1864. 



The idea of a twenty inch gun was conceived by Major T. J. 

 Rodman, of the Army Ordnance Corps, and the gun in question was 

 designed by him, and made after his method of " Hollow Casting." 

 It required for its manufacture, new furnaces, cranes and lathes, full 



