PROMOTION OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 23 



delphia; Prof. Benjamin Silliman, chemist and geologist, of Yale 

 College; Noah Webster, lexicographer and author, of Connecticut; 

 and Lieut. Col. John J. Abert, XT. S. Corps of Topographical Engi- 

 neers. Of foreign corresponding members there were 20, including 

 the British and Russian Ministers at Washington. 



Among the resident and corresponding members, the following 

 later became prominent in connection with the National Institution 

 and the founding of the Smithsonian Institution, namely, Joel R. 

 Poinsett, Richard Rush ; Senators Mahlon Dickerson, Daniel Webster, 

 Levi Woodbury and Asher Robbins; Dr. William Darlington, Peter 

 S. Duponceau and Lieut. Col. Abert. 



PROPOSITIONS FOR PROMOTING THE OBJECTS OF THE INSTITUTE. 



To carry out the work planned by the Institute would have required 

 the command of large resources, but, notwithstanding that the mem- 

 bership seemed well endowed with energy and counted many men of 

 high position and influence, the society was never successful in ob- 

 taining, with the exception of one small contribution, any outside 

 financial aid. 



Wholly dependent for its revenues on membership dues, which were 

 at the rate of $5 annually until 1835 when they were reduced to $3, 1 

 such a large proportion of the members were constantly in arrears, 

 many paying only the first subscription, that the size of the member- 

 ship list at any time furnishes no clue to the amount of the income, 

 which was, however, always very small and uncertain. Committees 

 were appointed and collectors employed to call upon members, and 

 drastic measures were adopted with respect to delinquents, but none 

 of these means proved more than temporarily effective. The follow- 

 ing facts, gleaned from the few treasurers' statements which are now 

 available, illustrate the generally prevailing conditions. At the be- 

 ginning of 1822 only 34 members appear to have been considered as in 

 good standing, and some of these were in arrears. During 1825 the 

 treasurer received $218.56 and reported dues unpaid to the extent of 

 $584.62. The aggregate amount of dues collected during 1826 was 

 $227.20; from January, 1828, to April, 1829, $364.75, with unpaid dues 

 of $552.41 ; and from May, 1832, to February, 1833, $293.52. 



As the proceeds from dues were scarcely sufficient for the inci- 

 dental expenses of the society, various propositions were brought 

 forward from time to time for raising an adequate fund, the prin- 

 cipal of these being the holding of a lottery, the sale of public lots, 

 appropriations from Congress, and voluntary contributions from 

 the citizens o£ Washington. None of these schemes met with success, 



*For some years the sum of $5 was payable at the time of election, and $5 

 regularly thereafter, beginning at the date of the next annual meeting. 



