ILLUSTRATIONS. 49 



ta mutual satisfaction." Among the members at that time we find Thomas 

 Godfrey, the mathematician, William Parsons, the geographer, John Bartram, 

 botanist, James Alexander, esq. of New- York, and Thomas Hopkinson as 

 president of the society. About this period dr. Colden became an active and 

 most useful associate in this confederacy for the promotion of useful knowledge 

 is british America. 



" A PROPOSAL for promoting useful knowledge among the british plantation* 

 in America. 



The engttsh are possessed of a long tract of continent, from A 7 ova Scotia to 

 Qtorgia; extending north and south through different climates, having different 

 soils, producing different plants, mines, and minerals j and capable of different 

 improvements, manufactures, etc. 



The first drudgery of settling new colonies, which confines the attention of 

 people to mere necessaries, is now pretty well over ; and there are many in 

 every province in circumstances that set them at ease, and afford leisure to cul- 

 tivate the finer arts, and improve the common stock of knowledge. To such of 

 these who are men of speculation, many hints must from time to time arise ; 

 many observations occur, which, if well examined, pursued, and improved, 

 might produce discoveries to the advantage of some or all of the british planta 

 tions, or to the benefit of mankind in general. 



But as, from the extent of the country, such persons are widely separated, and 

 seldom can see and converse, or be acquainted with each 1 other, so that many 

 useful particulars remain uncommunicated, die with the discoverers, and are lost 

 to mankind ; it is, to remedy this inconvenience for the future, proposed, 



That one society be formed of virtuosi, or ingenious mn, residing in the seve- 

 ral colonies, to be called The American Philosophical Society ; who are to 

 maintain a constant correspondence. 



That Philadelphia, being the city nearest the centre of the continent colonies, 

 communicating with all of them northward and southward by post, and with all 

 the islands by sea, and having the advantage of a good growing library, be .the 

 centre of the society. 



That at Philadelphia there be always at least seven members ; vis. a physician, 

 a botaaist, a mathematician, a chymist, a mechanician, a geographer, and a 

 general natural philosopher ; beside a president, treasurer, and secretary. 



That these members meet once a month, or oftener, at their own expense ; to 

 communicate to each other their observations, experiments, etc. to receive, read, 

 and consider such letters, communications, or queries, as shall be sent from dis- 

 tant members ; to rfifect the dispersing of copies of such communications ai are 



G 



