The following remarks were made at the recent Annual Meeting of the Boston 

 Society of Natural History in the performance of a customary duty, and without 

 any expectation of their appearing in print. Their principal object was to induce 

 the Society to make an effort to ensure its own permanency by an appeal to the 

 liberality of the public. The recommendation to this effect having been adopted 

 by the Society, it has become necessary to lay before those persons who would be 

 likely to aid it, a short exposition of the history, condition, prospects, and neces- 

 sities of the institution, together with a summary of what it has already accom- 

 plished, what it desires to effect, and of its particular claims to public patronage 

 and aid. The Committee, thinking that these remarks are sufficiently full for these 

 purposes, have requested permission to publish them with a view to their general 

 circulation among the friends of learning in this city. This request has been 

 granted in the hope that they might contribute in some small degree to the success 

 of the effort now being made by the Society. 



Boston, June 20, 1845. 



