254 



of a disclaimer of any such imputation as hnd been, without full con- 

 sideration, supposed by the lamented author. Although grieved by 

 that supposition, Mr. F. wished to offer to the memory of the de* 

 ceased the tribute of that denial which the truth warranted; and he 

 sought to do this here, because it es[)e!cially concerned the American 

 Philosophical Society to promote, by its influence, the maintenance of 

 that comity which is proper to the intercourse of the friends of learn- 

 ing throughout the world. He did not purpose to discuss the ques- 

 tion raised, as to the validity of the reasoning employed in the book 

 referred to. That would be judged in duo time by well informed 

 readers. He had assumed no facts which are not stated by all the 

 latest elementary writers on geology; and he was sure that a closer 

 consideration of the phraseology of his criticism would have con- 

 vinced Mr. Miller that not only in respect to his motives, but also in 

 respect to the geological facts assumed, a correct acceptation of that 

 phraseology rendered irrelevant the comments made upon it. Mr* 

 F. requested that his disclaimer might be noticed in the next printed 

 proceedings of the Society. 



Prof. Trego, from the committee on the sale of the Hall, 

 laid before the Society a certified copy of an act of the legisla- 

 ture of Pennsylvania, passed April 25, IS57, granting the as- 

 sent of this Commonwealth to the purchase of the Society's 

 Hall by the United States, for the purposes and business of 

 courts of justice, and the offices and officers connected there- 

 with. 



The committee on the portrait of Dr. Kane reported that 

 the painting is now nearly completed. 



Stated Meeting, May 15. 



Present, sixteen members. 



Prof. Cresson, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Dr. B. Howard Rand, a recently elected member, was intro- 

 duced and took his seat. 

 Letters were read: — 

 From J. Lawrence Smith, dated Louisville, Ky. April 28; 



