BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



33 



voluntary contributions for the furtherance of its objects, is not sustained by the 

 condition of affairs at this time, for it may well be asked how long the Society could have 

 gone on with an increasing debt consequent upon increasing expenditure not to be 

 avoided, if the bequest of Mr. Courtis had not relieved it from embarrassment ; especially 

 when it will be seen that with the additional means thus acquired, the best portion of its 

 rich collections went to ruin for want of that necessary care which only paid service can 

 be relied upon to render, and which could not be afforded. 



The income from the Courtis fund was a great help, and a great encouragement. It 

 enabled the Society to go on with its work in a manner that secured for it public appro- 

 bation, of great service to it later when its increasing collections called for more room for 

 their exhibition, and made an appeal for help necessary. It was not enough to enable it 

 to adequately protect its perishable treasures. A much larger income was indispensable, 

 but experience had not yet demonstrated this fully. 



Sometime during this year, though no record is made of it, the Council agreed to 

 appropriate the income of the Courtis Fund one-third to the Library, one-third to publi- 

 cations, and one-third to the Cabinet. 



It may be interesting to the members of the present time to know something of the 

 attendance of members in the early days of its activity. 



The following table will show the highest and lowest number present, together with the 

 average attendance each year. 



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An increasing interest seems to have been felt in the meetings during the year ending 

 May, 1834, as the average attendance is shown to be double that of the one previous. 

 This was due in part at least to the removal of the Cabinet to the new hall in Tremont 

 Street, over the Savings Bank, where subsequently the meetings were mostly held. The 

 average afterwards fell off and became small in the years ending in May, 1836 and 1837, 

 when it again increased considerably, as during the year ending May, 1838, there was an 

 attendance of over 50 per cent, more than during the two previous years. This is 

 likely to have been the temporary effect of ladies being permitted to accompany the 

 members. There is no record of this permission being withdrawn, and the probability 

 is that too few continued to feel such interest as to lead to the custom of their attend- 

 ance becoming permanent. In the years following nothing is said of their presence and 

 the average number of members at the meetings again fell off. 



Kespecting the increase of the Cabinet up to this period it may be said that there were 

 but few meetings held when specimens were not brought forward and presented. Some- 

 times these donations were of great value, and deserve special mention. 



