Additional Notes. 487 



H The society have published five quarto volumes of their 

 Transactions. Their library, chiefly formed by the benevo- 

 lent donations of similar societies both in Europe and Ame- 

 rica, and of individuals, now contains upwards of 1 300 vo- 

 lumes. Their museum of natural history is not yet very ex- 

 tensive; but, however, contains a number of rare and valu- 

 able specimens, chiefly of the fossil or mineral kind. Their 

 philosophical apparatus is still in an infant state, but pro- 

 gressive. 



" In the year 1786 Mr. John Hyacinth de Magellan, 

 of London, made a donation to the society of 200 guineas, 

 to be vested in a permanent fund, to the end that the interest 

 arising therefrom should be annually disposed of in premiums, 

 to be adjudged by the society " to the author of the best dis- 

 covery, or most useful invention, relating to navigation, astro- 

 nomy', or natural philosophy (mere natural history only ex- 

 cepted)." A few only of these premiums having been yet 

 awarded, this fund is now considerably accumulated. The 

 society have, from their own proper funds, offered premiums, 

 and invited candidates to make communications of inventions 

 or improvements relative to certain specified objects. 



" With respect to the number of the present members of the 

 society I cannot speak with any degree of certainty. It may, 

 perhaps, be about two hundred, of whom about one half 

 may be foreigners, about forty in Philadelphia and its vicinity, 

 and the rest in all parts of the United States. 



" The society, I may say with truth, is at present in a pretty 

 flourishing condition. Its meetings are well attended, and 

 every part of its business conducted with regularity. This, 

 in justice, however, is to be ascribed to the zeal and activity 

 of a very few of its members. 



" The society have no other funds than those which arise 

 from the annual contribution of two dollars from each of its 

 resident members, and the occasional donations of liberal in- 

 dividuals." 



American Academy of Arts and Sciences, p. 260. 



The following extract of a letter from a member of the 

 Academy, written in September, 1301, will give the reader 

 a comprehensive view of the history of this institution, and 

 of its state at that time. 



" The American Academy of Arts and Sciences was incor- 



