72 A NOTICE OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



the spirit of generosity may endow the Academy with means for 

 the purpose. Some of the founders hoped the time would come 

 when a botanical garden, as well as a zoological garden, would 

 constitute parts of the Institution. Their hopes may yet be 

 realized ; and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 

 may one day compare with the British Museum, or the celebrated 

 museum of the Jardin des Plantes, of Paris, which owe so much 

 to the patronage of royal governments. 



This Institution has no acknowledgments to make for patron- 

 age received from the political government. Except only the Act 

 of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to ex- 

 empt the property occupied by the Academy from taxation, the 

 Government of the State has not done anything to encourage the 

 diffusion of knowledge by the labors of this Society.* This cir- 

 cumstance may, in the opinion of some persons, add to the honor 

 of the Academy ; while others may fancy the Legislature would 

 pursue a wise policy to assist an Institution, whose labors are 

 manifestly directed towards the diffusion of knowledge, because 

 it is, in fact, one of the public schools, through the instrumentality 

 of which every citizen may acquire useful information. 



* Extract of " An Act, relative to certain taxes in the counties of Centre, 

 Lycoming, and Clinton, and for other purposes." 



SECT. 2. Whereas by an act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, 

 passed the 7th day of February, A. D. eighteen hundred and thirty-one, the 

 hall and lot of ground belonging to the Academy of Natural Sciences of 

 Philadelphia, were exempted from taxation ; and whereas, in order to afford 

 more extensive accommodations for their library, museum, and collections 

 of natural history, and to increase the usefulness of the said Academy of 

 Natural Sciences, they have sold their former property, and applied the 

 proceeds thereof towards the purchase of another lot of ground, and the 

 erection thereon of a more commodious and larger hall : Therefore, 



" Be it enacted by the authority of the same, That the hall and lot of ground 

 belonging to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, situated in 

 Broad Street, in the city of Philadelphia, be, and is hereby exempted from 

 all state, county, corporation, and school taxes, so long as the said hall and 

 Jot of ground shall belong to, and be used for the purposes of the said 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 



WM. HOPKINS, 

 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 



ED. KINSBURY, 

 Speaker of the Senate. 

 for r ' '' the eleventh da y of June > one thousand eight hundred and 



DAVID R. PORTER. 



