166 Proceedings. 



The officers for 1887 were elected as follows: 



President, - - - - A. F. Elliot. 

 Vice-President, - - - - J. A. Dodge. 

 Recording Secretary, - - C. W. Hall. 



Treasurer, - - - - N. H. Hemiup. 

 Corresponding Sec'y, Miss Gertrude J. Leonard. 



( W. H. Leonard. 

 Trustees for three years, - i n w Hall 



February 8, 1887. 



Seventeen persons present. 



N. H. Hemiup read a paper on "the star Groombridge and its 

 relation to the known laws of gravitation." 



The paper brought out some discussion touching the methods 

 used by astronomers in determining the velocity of stars in their 

 orbital movements. 



The secretary read a paper by Mr. F. L. Washburn on "Thomas,, 

 Jefferson as a naturalist." 



Mr. Washburn quoted the claim made by some that to .Jefferson and 

 Agassiz, America owes most for its advancement in the pure and applied 

 sciences. 



March 8, 1887. 



Eighteen persons present. 



Conway G. MacMillan presented some "notes on wheat rust," 

 which embodied a summary of the life-history and morphology of 

 Puccinia graminis, Pers. 



The secretary read a paper sent by Mr. F. L. Washburn to the 

 section of botany, on, "the life-history of the common fern and a 

 morphological comparison of fern and flowering plant." 



The papers were both of unusual interest and by a unanimous 



vote the thanks of the academy were extended to Mr. Washburn 



and Mr. MacMillan. 



April 12, 1887. 



Twenty-three persons present. 



Professor J. A. Dodge reported from the section of chemistry 

 "some general considerations on methods of purifying water for 

 domestic uses." 



The subject aroused much interest and a free discussion. 



May 3, 1887. 

 Ten persons present. 



