Imperial Society of Xaturalists of Moscow. 387 



ordinary and honorary ; and the ordinary members are di- 

 vided into resident and non-resident. 



" Shortly after the association just mentioned took place, 

 Mr. Muravief, curator of the university of Moscow, and col- 

 league of the minister of public instruction, informed that the 

 societv had begun to meet at the house of the director, pro- 

 fessor Fischer," presented its regulations to his imperial ma- 

 jesty, the Emperor Alexander, who approved of the design, 

 and* therefore ordered Mr. Muravief to testify his high satis- 

 faction to the professor. His excellency Count Alexei Ra- 

 zumofskii, lately minister of public instruction, senator, che- 

 valier, &c, was 'first chosen president. The present president is 

 prince Obolenskii. The perpetual director, Gotthelf Fischer, 

 Aulic counsellor of H. I. M., chevalier, doctor and professor,^ 

 and member of many learned societies ; and vice-president of 

 the medico-chirurgical academy. 



" Soon after the institution of the society, the literati, and 

 particularly the cultivators of natural history, whose works 

 are too little known in England, including many of the no- 

 bility of Moscow, Petersburg, and the other towns as well 

 as universities in Russia ; and also many of the most distin- 

 guished philosophers and naturalists on the continent, chiefly 

 through the extensive acquaintance of the founder and direc- 

 tor, professor Fischer, were enrolled among its members. 

 Presents were received from all quarters/ of books, objects of 

 natural history, and of money. The society was very flou- 

 rishing, and by the year 1812 had published four volumes of 

 its Transactions. All the collections of the society were de- 

 posited in the museum of the university, and, along with that 

 extensive establishment, became a common prey to the flames 

 in the year 1812. Among other things were lost some manu- 

 scripts', and almost the whole of the impression of their Trans- 

 actions, which, however, will be soon reprinted. 



" Far from being dispirited by this irreparable misfortune, 

 the members of the society re-assembled in the year 1813, 

 and commenced their proceedings anew ; and since have 

 continued all their eftbrts with unremitting vigour to re- 

 cover from their losses, and have now published the fifth 

 volume of their Transactions. The society has renovated 

 a small museum and library. Among the foreigners, pro- 

 fessor Fischer and Dr. Fischer, director of the botanic gar- 

 dens at Gorengi*, are distinguished for their zealous ser- 

 vices in this society. From the change in the state of Eu- 

 rope, a more free interchange of scientific publications is 



• The I'hilo-Graphic Society of Gorengi was instituted l>y Dr. Fischer, 

 and afterwards was united with the Imperial Natural History Society. 



3 C2 to 



