1880.] °°* [Fraley. 



front. As early as 1S35, the city desired to purchase 

 the Hall, and a few years afterwards conditional 

 arrangements were made for such a purpose but they 

 were verbal and informal, although intended on both 

 sides to be carried out in good faith. 



There was at that time a lar^e building known as 

 the Chinese Museum, situated on Ninth Street, South 

 of Chestnut, which contained the large and valuable 

 collections of the Philadelphia Museum, originally 

 founded by C. Wilson Peale. 



An arrangement was made, by which the Society 

 should purchase this building, and lease part of it to 

 the Museum Company, and use the remainder for its 

 own purposes and benefit. It was supposed that what 

 the City would pay for the old Hall, would enable the 

 Society to buy and substantially pay for the Museum 

 property. The Society made the purchase, and used 

 all its funds in making the required payments. 



These funds it was expected would be replaced by 

 the money to be paid by the city for the old hall. 

 The price of the hall was to be fixed by referees, of 



Later in that month the committee reported that they could get Mr. Jno. Dun- 

 lap's lot in Fifth Street for $1000. 



In December Mr. Hopkinson offered his S. E. cor. Seventh and Arch Street 

 lot, " near " the Observatory, 40' by ioo / , for $1000. In fact this (?) lot " next " 

 the Observatory, enlarged to 4c/ by 306'', was, in the next February, purchased 

 of Mr. Hopkinson for ^600, half down, half on mortgage. 



January 16, 1784, Mr. Hopkinson inaugurated a building excitement in the 

 Society, and, February 6th, the Society resolved that measures be immediately 

 taken for erecting a suitable building. Subscriptions were ordered ; an applica- 

 tion to the Legislature for aid; and, as soon as ^1000 should be subscribed, a 

 committee to plan and superintend the edifice. 



The Legislature responded to the call, and. March 5th, the Treasurer of the 

 Society was ordered to draw on the Treasurer of the State. 



Sam. Vaughan, Mr. Rittenhouse and Mr. Hopkinson became a committee. 



At the next meeting the committee reported a petition of the Philosophical 

 Society and Library Company conjointly to ihe Legislature, for two lots of 

 ground, one on eacji side of the State House yard. 



