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have thus, in some instances created, and in others encour- 

 aged and directed, a taste for the study of the natural sciences 

 in individuals who otherwise would have given their attention 

 to very different pursuits. The result of this judicious policy 

 has been the training of an active corps of young naturalists, 

 some of whom have already given ample evidence of their 

 ability to achieve for themselves a high reputation. Its effect 

 on the Society has been a constant infusion of new strength, 

 so that instead of becoming inactive and dormant, like many 

 similar institutions when the original members have relaxed 

 their zeal, it has, on the contrary, found numerous recruits 

 ready to take the place of old members, and has itself become 

 more and more active. 



Such, I conceive, to be some of the results of the establish- 

 ment of this Society ; and they are the legitimate and honor- 

 able results of industry and zeal well directed. They con- 

 stitute as good a case, I believe, as can be made by any 

 institution among us. With such facts we may go before 

 the public, confidently relying that those who are willing to 

 aid such undertakings as tend to elevate the moral and intel- 

 lectual character of the city, and those who are ever ready to 

 bestow, in benefits to the community, some part of the ample 

 means with which Providence has blessed them, will extend to 

 us, as they have to others, a helping hand in this our time 

 of need. 



I will, in conclusion, state what, in my judgment, is the 

 extent of our wants, and how much we should aim to accom- 

 plish. Gentlemen who have visited Europe will remember 

 the extensive Museums of Natural History which exist in all 

 the capital cities, and in many of the larger provincial towns. 

 They will recollect with how much interest these are visited 

 by intelligent strangers, how much they contribute to the 

 public amusement, what rich sources of knowledge they afford 

 to men of science, and how carefully they are fostered by 

 government, as a means of promoting the public knowledge 



