RECORDS OF MEETINGS. 699 



the act were regarded as men of genius and learning, had been fur- 

 nished opportunity for special preparation to cope with the numerous 

 questions suggested in this list. 



The HoUis professorship of mathematics and natural philosophy, 

 founded in 1727, provided the only instructor in that institution whose 

 function it was to deal with any of these topics. Professorships insti- 

 tuted after that date could have had no influence in the mental prepa- 

 ration of these investigators but it may be of interest to note the slow 

 awakening of the college to the necessities of students along these 

 lines. A professorship of Chemistry and Materia Medica was insti- 

 tuted in 1783; of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy and Civil 

 Polity, in 1789 ; of Natural History, in 1805; of Sciences applied to 

 the useful arts, in 1816; of History, ancient and modern, in 1839; 

 and of Astronomy and Mathematics, in 1842. 



The annual income which the Academy could receive was limited to 

 £500 from real property and £2,000 from personal. This measure of 

 value was in silver at 6^. 8d. per ounce, and amounted to a little less 

 than $8,500. The annual dues were to be paid in Spanish Milled 

 dollars in specie or an equivalent in bills of the current exchange. 



The seal of the Academy was not adopted for some years thereafter. 

 The erect figure upon it represents Minerva. Instruments of hus- 

 bandry, as well as a quadrant and a telescope, are to be seen in the 

 foreground. A corn-field to the left, a town in the distance; a ship 

 under sail approaching it ; overhead the sun rising above a cloud. Of 

 this seal those who were describing it said : "The device represents 

 the situation of a new country depending principally on agriculture, 

 but attending at the same time to arms, commerce and the Sciences." 

 One correction in the language used in this description suggests itself. 

 The word " arms " in the phrase " arms, commerce and the sciences," 

 should obviously be arts. The peculiar growth in the lower left-hand 

 portion of the seal represents the corn-field, and was intended to be 

 symbolical of agriculture. Commerce found recognition in the ship 

 and science was obliged to content herself with the quadrant and 

 telescope. 



Elections in the Academy were in those days formidable affairs. 

 The polls were to be opened at three P. M. and after the choice of 

 scrutineers, the ballotting was to begin. The ballot box was to re- 

 main open until five P. M. and was then to be closed. The voter was 

 required to fold his ballot and hand it in this form to the President, 

 whose duty it was to put the ballot in the box and at the same time to 

 check the name of the voter upon his list of members. A majority 

 was required for election. Ties were settled by drawing lots. 



