199 



[Fraley. 



Dr. Brinton was appointed to prepare an obituary notice of 

 the deceased. 



The death of Dr. John W. Draper, on Jan. 4, 1882, aged 

 71 years, was announced. 



Dr. Hammond was appointed to prepare an obituary notice 

 of the deceased. 



An obituary notice of Mr. W. Mihior Roberts was I'ead. 



Prof. Cope presented a fossil lower jaw from the Colorado 

 basin. 



Nominations were read. 



Mr. Lesley was nominated Librarian. 



The report of the Finance Committee was submitted. 



The Committee on the Deposit of MSS. reported progress. 

 And the meeting was adjourned. 



All Ohitum^ Notice of William Mihior Roberts. 



(^Furnished by Mrs. W. Mihior Roberts, and read before the American 

 Philosophical Society, by Frederick Fraley, January 6, 1882. ) 



William Milnor Roberts, C. E., whose death occurred at Soledade, pro- 

 vince of Minas Geraes, July 14th, 1881, was one of the oldest and most 

 active members of the engineering profession. He was of Quaker descent, 

 and was born in the city of Philadelphia on the 12th of February, 1810. 

 His education was received in the best private schools of that city, during 

 which a special course in mathematics of two terms was spent under the 

 eminent mathematician, Joseph Roberts. He also pursued a course of 

 architectural drawing in the first school established by the Franklin Insti- 

 tute, under the distinguished architect, John Haviland. After entering 

 the profession of engineering — there were no engineering schools at that 

 time — he continued his studies, principally in mathematics, of which he 

 was very fond, during the winter months, the summer being spent in the 

 field. 



Owing to his aptitude for mathematical studies and investigations, his 

 father's friend, Samuel Mifiiin, then president of the Union canal company, 

 of Pennsylvania, advised his adoption of the profession of civil engineer- 

 ing, an advice which he very wisely followed. He received his first em- 

 ployment in that profession on the Union canal, of Pennsylvania, in the 

 spring of 1825, he being then in his sixteenth year. His first employment 



