172 Mevieiv. 



even to the United-States ; a museum to which every 

 American citizen should endeavour to contribute his 

 mite of support. There are, however, two classes of 

 objects which we ought to labour to collect ; I mean 

 specimens of our indigenous Plants; and specimens of 

 our Minerals. Indeed, I will flatter myself, that every 

 member of the Society will feel it a kind of duty in- 

 cumbent upon him, to furnish us with such rare and 

 curious vegetables or minerals as he may be able to 

 collect, in different parts of the country. In this way 

 alone, a great accession may, in the course of a very 

 few years, be made to the stock of our knowledge of 

 the botany and mineralogy of the United- States. 



" You have agreed, gentlemen, to denominate your 

 association the Philadelphia Linnean Society. 

 In making choice of this name, in preference to every 

 other, you have gratefully rendered homage to one of 

 the most illustrious cultivators of science, the world has, 

 hitherto, produced. Certainly no other man, neither in 

 ancient nor in modern times, has contributed so much to 

 extend our acquaintance with the external characters 

 of the living works of nature, on this globe, as has 

 Linnaeus. Endowed, by a beneficent Creator, with an 

 uncommon portion of genius; warmed by an imagination 

 of the richest kind, which, however, his correct judg- 

 ment generally restrained within proper limits ; blessed 

 with the most persevering and virtuous industry, which 

 enabled him to accomplish whatever schemes of use- 

 fulness or glory his sanguine mind may have devised ; 

 Avhich enabled him to triumph over poverty, and over 

 the active malevolence of his enemies ; thrice happy 



