66 A NOTICE OF THE 



The year 1817 was eventful in the history of the Academy. 

 A charter was obtained, which gave the Institution a legal exist- 

 ence ; and the publication of the Journal was commenced, which was 

 the means of opening intercourse with learned societies at home 

 and abroad, and making known our own existence. An exchange 

 of Journals, first with the American Philosophical Society, and sub- 

 sequently with other learned societies, was begun and has been con- 

 tinued to the present time, when the publications of the Academy 

 are exchanged with twelve societies within the Union, and thirty- 

 four beyond its limits, in America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

 No one act of the Academy has contributed so much to its pros- 

 perity as the publication of this Journal. 



In November of this year, the Academy appointed for the first 

 time, Standing Committees on Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, and 

 Geology. 



The progress of the Academy was not very rapid ; yet, at the 

 close of 1820, the question of enlarged accommodation once more 

 presented itself for consideration. The Institution had sprung 

 from inconsiderable beginnings, and pursued its objects in a re- 

 tired and unpretending manner, and now in the eighth year of 

 its existence, was favorably recognized by the friends of natural 

 science, both at home and abroad. At that time it numbered 

 about 100 members and 190 correspondents. 



In the year 1823, a committee was appointed to consider the 

 best means of obtaining better accommodations. On the 25th of 

 January, 1825, that committee was discharged and another ap- 

 pointed, consisting of Isaac Hays, M. D., Wm. Mason Walmsley, 

 William Strickland, William S. Warder, Samuel Greo. Morton, 

 M.D., and Roberts Vaux. This committee was continued, and 

 finally succeeded in establishing the Society in new quarters. 



On the 3d of January, 1826, the Society purchased a lot of 

 ground and building at the south-east corner of Twelfth and 

 George Streets, for the sum of $4,300. It had been originally 

 designed, and was used as a place of religious worship for several 

 years by a society of Swedenborgians ; and, to fit it for the pur- 

 poses of the Academy, an expenditure of $1,700 was required, 

 making the aggregate cost about $6,000. This sum was made up 

 of donations from members, to the amount of more than $2,000, 

 the balance being loaned by a few members and others. A debt of 

 $3,000 was thus created, and up to August 1837, only $300 of 



