GERARD TROOST. I2 i 



converse concerning natural phenomena when they met in the 

 evening, without appointment, at the ordinary places of resort. 

 They very often met at the apothecary's shop of John Speak- 

 man, of whom Thomas Say was subsequently the business 

 partner, at the corner of Market and Second Streets. At one 

 of these meetings Mr. Speakman suggested that if the young 

 men could be induced to meet at stated times, where they 

 would be secure from interruption, to communicate to one an- 

 other what they might learn about the phenomena of Nature, 

 they would derive more pleasure and profit than from desultory 

 and irregular conversation. The suggestion was seconded by 

 Jacob Gilliams, and a meeting was appointed for the next 

 Saturday evening at Mr. Speakman's house, for the young men 

 and such of their friends as might be interested in the matter : 

 Six persons were present at the meeting, January 25, 1812: 

 Dr. Gerard Troost, Dr. Camillus Macmahon Mann, Jacob Gil- 

 liams, John Shinn, Jr., Nicholas Parmentier, and John Speak- 

 man, host. The meeting was described in the minutes as "a 

 meeting of gentlemen, friends of science and of rational dis- 

 posal of leisure moments " ; and it was agreed that the exclu- 

 sive object of the society should be the cultivation of natural 

 science. For the furtherance of this purpose all matters of 

 politics and religion were rigorously excluded, even allusions to 

 them being forbidden. It was perhaps from this determina- 

 tion, Dr. Ruschenberger suggests, that " the erroneous notion 

 sprang, which, according to tradition, prevailed with some, that 

 the object of the institution was to favour religious infidelity." 

 The constitution of the society was agreed upon on the iyth 

 of March, and the name Academy of Natural Sciences was 

 adopted on the 2ist of that month, which date was established 

 as that of the beginning of the institution. On that day, too, 

 the members agreed " to contribute to the formation of a mu- 

 seum of natural history, a library of works of science, a chem- 

 ical experimental laboratory, an experimental philosophical 

 apparatus, and every other desirable appendage or conven- 

 ience for the illustration and advancement of natural knowl- 

 edge, and for the common benefit of all the individuals who 

 may be admitted members of our institution." Among the 

 first donors of minerals were Dr. Troost, Mr. Isaac Lea, Dr. 

 Hays, and Mr. S. Hazard. When the small room, 121 North 

 Second Street, hired about the ist of April, was occupied, the 

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