Additional Notes. 329 



" The society was incorporated, by an act of tlie legislature 

 of Pennsylvania, in the year 1780. Aided by the munifi- 

 cence of the state, and liberal donations of individuals, it has 

 now erected, on a lot of ground in the State House square, a 

 commodious and not inelegant building, where its museum 

 and library are kept, and its meetings held. 



" The society has published five quarto volumes of its 

 Transactions. Its library, chiefly formed by the benevo- 

 lent donations of similar societies both in Europe and Ame- 

 rica, and of individuals, now contains upwards of 1300 vo- 

 lumes. Its 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. Its 

 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 tlie 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 fiuid is now considerably accumulated. 

 The society have, from their own proper funds-, ofTcrcd 

 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 vici- 

 nity, 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. 



