ACADEMY OF NATUKAL SCIENCES. 47 



of Philadelphia, and a leading dentist of the day. This gentle- 

 man, though the practice of his profession did not permit him 

 to cultivate extensively any branch of natural science, was ever 

 ready to aid and facilitate the labors of its votaries, for the ad- 

 vantage and pleasure he derived from listening to their conver- 

 sations. He was an intimate associate of Mr. Thomas Say, and, 

 about the time (1808) when Mr. Alexander Wilson was engaged 



V / O o 



upon his Ornithology, they were in the habit of visiting a relative 

 or connection of Mr. Say, at Kingsessing, Mr. Wm. Bartram, 

 with whom Mr. Wilson was on terms of great intimacy. Mr. 

 Gilliams attributes his love of nature mainly to the influence of 

 those visits. When a boy, he gathered stones and minerals ; 

 and caught caterpillars, and shut them up to observe their meta- 

 morphoses. His mother saw, in the gratification of this taste, 

 that his clothes were constantly soiled ; and on this account she 

 frequently censured such pursuits. 



This brief allusion to the circumstances and the general in- 

 fluences under which these two gentlemen, and some others, 

 lived, as well as the temper of their minds and inclinations at 

 the time, will assist to explain the origin of the Academy. 



At one of those accidental meetings, previously alluded to, 

 Mr. Speaknfan suggested that if they and their acquaintances 

 could be induced to meet together at stated times, where they 

 would be secure from interruption, to communicate to each other 

 what they might learn about the phenomena of nature, they 

 would derive more pleasure and profit than from desultory and 

 irregular conversations. Mr. Gilliams enlarged upon the sug- 

 gestion. No doubt was entertained of the propriety of forming 

 an association, the members of which should devote their leisure 

 to study natural history. Before the two friends separated, 

 it was agreed they should meet on the following Saturday even- 

 ing at the residence of Mr. Speakman, and each should invite 

 such of his friends as might be found, on consultation, favorable 

 to the formation of the proposed society. 



On the evening of the 25th of January, 1812, in accordance 

 with the engagement above stated, Dr. Gerard Troost, Dr. Ca- 

 millus Macmahon Mann, Messrs. Jacob Gilliams, John Shinn, Jr., 

 Nicholas S. Parmantier, and John Speakman, assembled at the 

 residence of the gentleman last named. 



Mr. Speakman officiated as Chairman, and Dr. Mann acted 



