REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 



MAY 24, 1881. 



Since the last report, May 25, 1880, the Academy has re- 

 ceived notice of the death of thirteen members, as follows : 

 six Resident Fellows, George B. Emerson, John C. Gray, 

 Charles T. Jackson, Stephen P. Ruggles, L. F. Pourtal^s, and 

 Benjamin Peirce ; three Associate Fellows, J. L. Diman, S. 

 S. Haldeman, and James C. Wfitson ; four foreign Honorary 

 Members, Thomas Carlyle, Michel Chasles, W. H. Miller, 

 and C. A. F. Peters. 



RESIDENT FELLOWS. 



GEORGE B. EMERSON. 



George B. Emerson, who died March 4, 1881, was born in Wells, 

 Me. (then a part of Massachusetts), Sept. 12, 1797. Dr. Emerson, 

 his father, \vas a physician, with much cultivation outside of his pro- 

 fession. At his house the children came in contact with a refined and 

 intellectual society. They went to school in the winter, and were en- 

 gaged upon their father's farm in the summer, where their powers of 

 observation were developed. The subject of this notice was flimiliar, 

 at an early age, with the trees, plants, and shrubs in the vicinity of 

 his home, and read with avidity everything upon botany that was 

 within his reach. He knew something of Latin and Greek before he 

 entered Dummer Academy, at Byfield, where he prepared for college. 

 In Harvard College, which he entered in 1813, he was studious to a 

 fault, sacrificing his sleep, and finally his health, to his desire for 

 improvement. After graduating in 1817, he taught successfully a 

 private school in Lancaster, Mass., having had some experience in 

 teaching country schools in his college vacations. In 1819 he came 

 to Cambridge, and was tutor in mathematics in the College. When tho 

 English Classical School was established in Boston, Mr. Emerson was 



