246 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



January 28, j88j. — REGULAR MEETING. 



President C. E. Harrison in the chair; thirteen members present. 



A letter was read from Prof. O. W. Collett, of St. Louis, stating that 

 Mr. Henry Shaw, of that city, had recently purchased and presented 

 to the Missouri State Historical Society the very valuable library of the 

 late Bishop Robertson; and, on motion, the following resolutions were 

 unanimously adopted: 



Whereas, We have learned with great satisfaction of the recent purchase 

 of the very valuable library of the late Bishop Robertson, and the presentation 

 thereof to the Missouri State Historical Society, by Henry Shaw, of that city; 

 and 



Whereas, Such generosity and true appreciation of the said society as the 

 worthy and suitable custodian and owner of such precious documents, and the 

 recognition of the value of such institutions as conservators of true history and 

 aids to study and research, seem to us to be of much more than local import- 

 ance; and 



Whereas, Such conspicuous and noble examples must tend to attract the 

 attention of public-spirited individuals everywhere, and to induce those who are 

 able to contribute of their abundant means to the building up and support of 

 worthy historical and scientific institutions in their own localities; therefore 



Resolved, That we hereby tender our most hearty thanks to Mr. Henry 

 Shaw for his munificent gift to the Missouri Historical Society, of a collection 

 of rare books, whose great value will increase with time; and we desire to ex- 

 press and record our high appreciation of his far-seeing and wise liberality. 



Resolved, That these resolutions be given to the city papers for publication, 

 and copies of the same be sent to Mr. Shaw and to the Missouri Historical 

 Society. 



The following resolution, offered by Mr. Putnam, was adopted: 

 Resolved, That a special committee of three be appointed, to make careful 

 examination of the Constitution and By-Laws of this Academy, in connection 

 with the various amendments thereto which have been from time to time 

 adopted, and to report such modification or revision thereof as may seem essen- 

 tial or desirable, together with such additional provisions as they may deem 

 proper to recommend. 



The chair appointed as such committee, Messrs. C. E. Putnam, Dr. 

 C. H. Preston, and J. H. Harrison. 



Mr. H. C. Fulton read a paper on "Words," reciting numerous 

 curious instances of the adoption and use in English of various Anglo- 

 Saxon and Latin words and their derivatives. 



The President then announced the following committees for the 

 ensuing year: 



Finance. — Nicholas Kuhnen, Charles E. Putnam, G P. McClelland. 



