ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 51 



Mr. Say a few mounted birds ; and Dr. Troost some artificial 

 crystals, prepared by himself. Each member had given some- 

 thing ; and, though the " display of objects of science" 'was " cal- 

 culated rather to excite merriment than procure respect" at the 

 time (April 16, 1812) when Mr. Say was first introduced to the 

 temple, it was the germ which his assiduous care assisted in de- 

 veloping to the present extent and value. 



Dr. John Barnes, who was the first member elected, took his 

 seat on the 18th of April. On this occasion, the Board of 

 Management, which included all the founders, retired to an ad- 

 joining apartment for the transaction of business, leaving Dr. 

 Barnes alone to constitute the meeting of the Academy. 



In this month the members of the Academy made an excur- 

 sion to Perkiomen, for the purpose of augmenting the collection 

 of minerals. 



On the 7th of May, the officers of the Institution were as 

 follows : 



GERARD TROOST, M. D., President. 



C. M. MANN, M. D., Secretary. 



On the 15th of August, the collection of minerals previously 

 purchased from Dr. Seybert, by Mr. Speakman, came formally 

 into the possession of the Society. The sum of $750, which Mr. 

 Speakman had advanced from his private means, was converted 

 into shares of stock of $20 each, bearing six per cent, interest, 

 which were to be redeemed as soon as the treasury of the Aca- 

 demy would permit. Stockholders only were permitted to vote 

 on questions relating to the property of the Institution ; and 

 virtually they controlled the affairs of the Academy. The pur- 

 chase of this cabinet of minerals, by Mr. Speakman, and the 

 creation of stock to the amount of its cost, formed a chain which 

 bound the members together, without which they might have 

 ceased to meet before the close of the year 1812. 



Soon after the Seybert cabinet was added to the Museum, Dr. 

 Troost delivered a course of lectures on mineralogy before the 

 Academy. 



