WILLIAM TILGIIMAN. 21 



pulse was giveu^ the effects of which did not remain 

 long unperceived. 



We are informed till then, the society had confined 

 their pursuits to the sciences and arts which have the 

 material world for their ohject, to the exclusion of 

 those which are called by way of distinction, the 

 moral sciences. Many of its members, however, 

 had paid more attention to the latter, than to the 

 former of these two great divisions of human know- 

 ledge, and therefore, were prevented from shariug 

 in the labours of their society. It was at once per- 

 ceived how important it would be to secure the co- 

 operation of those men, by enlarging the field of the 

 society's researches. A new committee was added to 

 the six that already existed, which was denomi- 

 nated the Committee of History, the Moral Sciences, 

 and General Literature. Like all innovations, this 

 was not introduced without diflSculty ; but the friends 

 of the measure at last succeeded. Among those who 

 exerted themselves to procure its adoption, Mr. 

 Tilghman was conspicuous. His successful exer- 

 tions were rewarded with the honourable appoint- 

 ment of chairman to the new committee, his conduct 

 showed that this trust could not have been placed in 

 better hands. 



The society did not limit to that the expression 

 of their gratitude. In the year that 1 am speaking 

 of, they suflered the loss of two of their vice-presi- 

 dents, who ranked among their most distinguished 

 members. Jonathan Williams, whom I have just 



