30 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



sented, ten papers on geological subjects were presented, four 

 papers on zoology, two papers relating to anthropology, etc. 



The Academy lost one of its original members this year, 

 James Melville Gilliss, who died on February 9, 1865. It was 

 also unfortunate as regards the presiding officers. President 

 Bache having been in ill health, and the Vice-President, James 

 Dwight Dana, having been forced to resign on August 23, from 

 the same cause. ^ The report to Congress on the operations of the 

 Academy during 1865 was submitted by Professor Henry. 



As in the preceding year, the Washington meeting of the 

 Academy was held in the Capitol. The August meeting was 

 held at Northampton, Massachusetts. Few details have been 

 recorded regarding either of these meetings. From Lesley's 

 letters we learn that the Northampton session opened with 13 

 members present, which number increased to 20 on the follow- 

 ing day. This session opened on August 23, and closed on the 

 afternoon of the 26th. 



The division of the membership between the two classes 

 " Mathematics and Physics " and " Natural History " under- 

 went few changes in 1865, but the section of " Ethnology " came 

 into actual existence through the assignment of one member 

 thereto. Advantage was also taken in several sections of a 

 provision of the constitution whereby members assigned to the 



° Professor Dana's reasons for resigning are mentioned in letters written by him to Pro- 

 fessor Baird and Professor Guyot. On December lo, 1864, he wrote to Professor Baird: 

 "As the time for our January (1865) meeting of the National Academy approaches, I 

 become more and more convinced that I ought not to encounter the labor and fatigue of the 

 occasion. Had I no duties but those of a private in the Academy I should have less fear. 

 But with the cares of President, which involve meetings of council, as well as all 

 business meetings, at least, of the Academy, and much more of an outside nature, I am sure 



I should be unwise to risk attendance I should much prefer now to throw up the 



position; for besides my incapabilities from imperfect health, I should enjoy myself far more 

 if I could have my time and strength to mingle socially with the members present." (The 

 Life of James Dwight Dana, by D. C. Oilman, 1899, pp. 362, 363.) 



To Professor Guyot he wrote on February 14, 1865: "I wish most heartily I were out 

 of the office of Vice-President, and I think I shall take an early opportunity to abdicate. 

 It makes the meetings, now that Bache is unwell, times of great fatigue for me, and of no 

 satisfactory intercourse with friends on the ground. I dislike the duty, and care nothing 

 for the honor of it. You will not be surprised, therefore, if my resignation is handed in not 

 long hence." (Op. eit., p. 329.) 



