Address by Professor JSaldtoin. xxvii 



was going on in the scientific world.* In 1856 a movement was 

 made toward resuming greater activity, by the introduction of a 

 resolution " that literature as well as science and every subject 

 tending to the advancement of knowledge or the promotion of 

 human happiness comes within the scope and original plan of this 

 Association," and further that papers suitable for publication 

 should thereafter be pu])lished as from the Transactions of the 

 Academy, either in the American Journal of Science or in the 

 volume form, and that collection of the annual dues should be 

 resumed. 



A discussion, however, resulted in laying these propositions on 

 the table. They were evidently somewhat antagonistic to the 

 policy which had been adopted by the American Journal of 

 Science, which naturally preferred to ignore the original sources 

 from which so many of its articles were derived. In 1861, how- 

 ever, a vote was passed to request the editors of the Journal to give 

 credit to tlie Academy for all papers wliicli had formed a part of 

 its transactions 



A year later the Academy obtained wJiat it had long needed, and 

 the more imperatively, since the discontinuance of its evening sup- 

 pers, a regular and fixed place of meeting. This was due to the 

 kindness of Mr. Sheffield, one of its members, who is gratefully 

 remembered as the founder of the Sheffield Scientific School. 



Its last gathering at the house of a member was on November 

 19, 1862, at that of Tutor Lebeus C. Chapin, on the corner of 

 Church and Wall streets, and it has met ever since at Sheffield 

 Hall. In modelling that building, a few years later, Mr. Sheffield 

 constructed the handsome library room in the third story with 

 special reference to the wants of the Academy, and in conformity 

 with his wishes, the Governing Board of the School in 1866 

 offered it as a place where our meetings could be permanently 

 held. The offer was received with due thanks, but the Academy 

 did not commit itself to an acceptance in terms. Had it done so, 

 it would have been less wise and far-seeing than those who laid its 

 first foundations. The charter prepared by President Stiles and 

 Mr. Devotion, in 1783, contemplated a building which the Acad- 



* Those of its members most interested in philological studies had, under the 

 lead of Dr. Murdock, procured a charter from the State in 1844 for their incor- 

 poration as the " Philological Society." Special Laws of Conn. IV, 1199. 



