88 INSTITUTE NOTES. 



Several of the members of the Institute have recentl}^ had 

 the privilege of examining a very interesting historical record. 

 This is a copy of the Ulster County Gazette (New York), of 

 January 4th, 1800. This was the first newspaper published 

 after the death of General Washington, and gives a full 

 account of that event. The Librarian of the Congressional 

 Library says there are but two authentic copies of this paper 

 in existence. The cop5' referred to is in the possession of 

 William J. Curriden, of Chester, Pa. 



Owing to the increased interest taken by the members in 

 biological and physical subjects, it has been deemed worth 

 while to organize a Phj^sico-Biological Section in the Institute. 

 The intention is to carry on the regular weekly meetings of 

 the Institute in an informal manner during the summer. In 

 this way the collectors of the Institute will be enabled to 

 exchange their finds and keep in touch with each other. 



William R. Newbold, Jr., of Ancon, Panama, has just 

 donated to the Institute a collection of photographs of the 

 Canal region. These, together with those he has previously 

 sent, make a very valuable historical collection. The photo- 

 graphs are fine ones, and have been ver}' favorably' com- 

 mented upon by our amateur photographers. 



The microscopic outfit of the Institute has just had added 

 to it a " bull's eye " lens for illumination of opaque objects. 

 This practically doubles the usefuhiess of the apparatus. 

 The naturalists of the Institute find it especially convenient 

 for work in their department. 



James G. Vail, a member of the Institute, who has been 

 in Germany for the past six months, ]iursuing a special course 

 of study in chemistry, is expected to return home shortly. 



