1Q A NOTICE OF THE 



306 persons, resident within the United States, but not of this 

 city, and 277 persons resident in foreign countries, or an aggre- 

 gate of 583, have been elected correspondents. Of this number, 

 98 are known to be deceased. The number of correspondents at 

 this time does not probably exceed 450. 



Supposing that every member and every correspondent elected 

 has done something to advance the Institution, its present con- 

 dition is due, on the most liberal estimate, to the joint liberality 

 and labors of not more than one thousand individuals, in all parts 

 of the world, in the course of forty years. In that period, the 

 population of Philadelphia has increased from less than one hun- 

 dred, to more than four hundred thousand ; yet from this great 

 number of people, in all that time, only four hundred and twenty- 

 eight citizens of Philadelphia have become members, and con- 

 tributed to the advancement of the Academy of Natural Sciences, 

 an institution for the acquisition and diffusion of knowledge, 

 second to none in this city or State. 



The Institution is supported exclusively by donations, and the 

 annual contributions of its members, of whom very few possess 

 superfluous means. It owns no domain yielding revenue ; yet, 

 in spite of a mortgage debt on the building of eleven thousand 

 dollars, it has thus far lived, and almost flourished, on means 

 afforded by the generous who are lovers of science. Debt is no 

 less baneful to the prosperity of institutions than of individuals ; 

 until this mortgage be considerably reduced, or entirely paid 

 off, the legitimate income of the Society exclusively, is not more 

 than sufficient to defray the cost of warming and lighting the 

 building, and of preserving the library and collections from in- 

 jury and loss. The most careful management of its fiscal affairs 

 now, is essential to the continuous success of the Academy ; but 

 it cannot be denied that there is at this moment a pressing 

 demand for increased accommodation, to advantageously arrange 

 and display the collections, several of which are not accessible 

 to the public, or even readily to members, for want of space 

 to exhibit them: besides, the preservation of zoological specimens 

 is rendered, difficult by crowding them together. 



What length of time must elapse before this serious obstacle 

 to the advancement of the Society will be removed, it is not easy 

 to conjecture. But it is hoped that in this great and wealthy 

 population, there will be found a sufficient number of liberal, pub- 



c-spmted citizens, who will not permit the Academy of Natural 



