10 Memoir of William Maclure. 



active interest in its prosperity, which was strengthened by his 

 regard for his friend, Professor Silliman — a man justly esteemed 

 for his zealous and successful exertions to advance the interests 

 of science, not less than for his extensive acquirements and 

 his many virtues. On this occasion Mr. Maclure declared his 

 intention to bring back with him from Mexico a number of 

 young native Indians, in order to have them educated in the 

 United States, and subsequently diffuse the benefits of instruc- 

 tion among the people of their own race. This benevolent ob- 

 ject, however, was not accomplished ; for in the ordering of Prov- 

 idence he did not live to return. 



From New Haven Mr. Maclure proceeded to New York, and 

 embarked for Mexico. Time and distance, however, could not 

 estrange him from that solicitude which he had long cherished 

 for the advancement of education in. his adopted country; and 

 from his remote residence he kept a constant correspondence 

 with his friends in the United States, among whom was the au- 

 thor of this memoir. 



Mr. Say died in 1834 at New Harmony f and Mr. Maclure 

 was thus deprived of one of his oldest and firmest friends. The 

 loss seemed for a time to render him wavering as to his future 

 plans ; but convinced on reflection that his educational projects 

 in the west could be no longer fostered or sustained, he resolved 

 to transfer his library at New Harmony to the Academy of Nat- 

 ural Sciences. This rich donation was announced to the Socie- 

 ty in the autumn of 1835 ; and Dr. Charles Pickering, who had 

 been for several years librarian of the institution, was deputed to 

 superintend the conveyance of the boohs to Philadelphia ; a trust 

 which was speedily and safely accomplished. i 



This second library contained 2259 volumes, embracing, like 

 the former one, works in every department of useful knowledge, 

 but especially natural history and the fine arts, together with an 

 extensive series of maps and charts. 



Mr. Say was one of the founders of the Academy; and among the last acts 



of his life, he provided for the further utility of the institution by requesting that 



it should become the depository of his books and collections. This verbal request 



was happily conEded to one whose feelings and pursuits were congenial to his 



own ; and the Academy is indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Say for some of its most val- 

 uable acquisitions. 



An interesting and eloquent memoir of Mr. Say was written by Dr. Benjamin 

 Horner Coates, and published under the auspices of the Academy in 1835. 





