1897. J MINUTES. 175 



velocity of electricity. But observe how the theory expounded 

 rests on that very idea, how it explains all the seeming contradic- 

 tions, and shows what in certain cases reduces the velocity of elec- 

 tricity from that of the velocity of light in the ether. 



Stated Meeting, April ;?, 1897. 

 Vice-President, Dr. Pepper, in the Chair. 



Present 45 members. 



Correspondence was snbmitted. 



Mr. Pettit, on behalf of the Curators, presented a i^eport, 

 recommending that the Xorth Room be fitted up for the use 

 of the Cabinet. 



Dr. Pepper presented the report of the Special Committee 

 on the Needs of the Library. 



The following resolutions were then adopted : 



1. That the immediate needs of the Library demand that the Nortli 

 Room be devoted to its purposes. 



2. That the Peale Collection be maintained in the North Room for the 

 present. 



3. That the collections of plants be transferred in trust as a deposit, 

 subject to recall, to such institution as may be ordered by the Society. 



4. That the duplicate collection of rocks be submitted to a Committee 

 of Geologists (Messrs. Lyman, Prime, Frazer and Piatt), to report to 

 the Society their recommendation as to its disposition. 



5. That a Special Committee of nine (Dr. Pepper, Messrs. Harris, 

 Pettit, T. H. Bache, Price, Frazer, Stone, Jos. M. Wilson and Hays) 

 be appointed to adopt plans for the adaptation of the North Room for the 

 above purposes and to make suitable provision for the other objects of 

 the Society, and that the Hall Committee be empowered to expend a 

 sum not exceeding one thousand dollars in carrjdng into eftect the plans 

 so adopted. 



A letter from Judge Mitchell on behalf of the Commission 

 to collect and print the Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania, 

 from the foundation of the colony to the year 1800, asking 

 that the Society grant it the privilege of using a volume of 



