238 DAVF.NPORT ACADEMY OK NATURAL SCIKNCES. 



special mention of the financial needs of the association, occasioned 

 by rapid growth of our collectionii and the positive necessity of pro- 

 viding for the interest due on the Academy debt. This matter of 

 indebtedness being most urgent, a committee of the association ar- 

 ranged a citizens meeting in our rooms, at which Mr. George H. 

 French presided and explained to those present the objects of the 

 association, the work done, and its needs, in words so earnest and 

 forcible that the sympathy of all was at once enhsted, and evi- 

 denced by generous subscriptions. Messrs. G. H. French, N. Kuhnen, 

 and Cj. p. McClelland were appointed a committee to complete the 

 work, which had grown under the impressive appeal of the chairman. 

 The responses to their solicitations were so generous that subscriptions 

 to the amount of $2,945 were received. This sum was sufficient not 

 only to meet current expenses and the interest on the debt, but also 

 to pay all debts and leave about $1,000 in the treasury as a perma- 

 nent fund. As shown by the Treasurer's report, a small part of the 

 subscribed money is yet uncollected. This was made necessary by 

 the wish of the subscribers who arranged to pay late in the year. All 

 will shortly be available. 



The interest developed by the efforts to relieve the Academy of 

 debt also gave grounds to hope that it might be made self-sustaining. 

 With this end in view, an effort to increase the membership resulted in 

 ([uite a gain. Estimates, however, on the cost of carrying on the 

 work of the Academy, made it evident that, in addition to a larger 

 membership, it also would be necessary to increase the dues from two 

 dollars to three. This seemed proper for other reasons : the dues had 

 been fixed at an early day, when the Academy collections filled but 

 two cases, and when the association was under but httle expense — 

 now the Academy occupies a home of its own ; its collections, in some 

 respects, are superior to any others in the "country; and, with its rap- 

 idly growing museum and library, it has outgrown the expectations of 

 the most sanguine of its projectors. It was thus shown that the pro- 

 visions for the support of the Academy had not kept pace with its 

 growth, and, after careful consideration, the change in annual dues was 

 made. It is hoped that members of the association not familiar with this 

 change will, when the collector visits them, appreciate its necessity. 

 Surely, if they consider the value of all that has been accom))lished, 

 and that the only fixed source of income is from the dues, the result 

 v/ill be an increased interest and prompt payments. 



To further enlarge our resources, the Lecture Committee have 

 arranged a course of entertainments, and with great labor obtained 

 subscribers sufficient to warrant the risk. The success of the course is 

 assured, if all members will exert themselves in its behalf. The Lect- 

 ure Committee have al.so, through their chairman. Rev. A. M. Judy, 

 arranged a course of five free lectures in our rooms. The Academy 

 and the {)ublic are indebted to Dr. Jennie McCowen, who has inaugu- 

 rated this course by lectures to the ladies on the subject of Physiology. 

 Among the pleasing features of the year were the lectures by Professor 

 Hilder, of St. Lcrais, and Professor Putnam, of the Peabody Institute. 



