82 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



A. Gould and Mr. Amos Binney, to prepare a pamphlet setting forth the claims and wants 

 of the Society. This was published and distributed among the members of both houses of 



the Legislature. 



In December also it was voted by the Council that a course of lectures be given during 

 the winter by members of the Society, free to the public, and Profs. Rogers and Wyman, 

 with Dr. Gould, were appointed to prepare a plan of such a course, with full powers to 

 make all the necessary arrangements. 



1861. The most important event of the year to the Society, and one of the most 

 important in its history, was the munificent donation by Dr. William J. Walker of his 

 estate in Bulfinch Street. 



As this act was the first of a series of great donations on the part of Dr. Walker to the 

 Society, it may be well to state what is known that led to such manifestation of interest 

 in its welfare. For some time previous to the event mentioned Dr. Walker had boarded 

 in the same house at Cambridge with the President of the Society, Prof. Wyman, and an 

 intimacy had arisen between them which led the former to regard with attention whatever 

 the latter was particularly engaged in. Noticing among the documents brought home and 

 laid upon the table of their common sitting room by Prof. Wyman, some of the publica- 

 tions of the Society, Dr. Walker became interested in their perusal and finally in the work 

 of the Society itself. This led to many conversations between them respecting the aims 

 and objects in view, which resulted in the donation mentioned, and eventually in Dr. 

 Walker becoming the great benefactor of the Society. 



In announcing the pleasing event Prof. Wyman made the following remarks, which 

 are worthy of mention here : 



" I have great pleasure in stating that since our .last meeting, Dr. William J. Walker 

 has presented, and by the necessary legal process has conveyed to this Society, the estate 

 recently occupied by him in this city. The property has been placed in the hands of 

 trustees, to be devoted, under wise and liberal conditions, in such a manner as they may 

 deem most expedient, for the promotion of our best interests and of the study of natural 

 history. This is the largest gift that we have received from a single individual. Under 

 any circumstances it would be munificent. Now it is both munificent and timely. It is all 

 the more gratifying inasmuch as it was wholly unsolicited. It naturally follows, from the 

 emotions which this beneficence calls forth, that we should rejoice at being the recipients 

 of such a gift, and, in accepting it, should express our gratitude and sense of deep obliga- 

 tion. But we must not rest here ; there are other considerations to which we must allow 

 a place at this time. 



" Standing before a community identified with the study of natural history and the dif- 

 fusion of a knowledge of it, we have been liberally endowed in this and other ways. I 

 believe that with our very inadequate means, we have done much to justify our benefac- 

 tors and the public in their encouragement of us. But every benefaction has imposed, 

 and every new one will impose, additional and more exacting obligations. Societies are 

 often charged, and it is to be feared too often justly, as less faithful to their trust than 

 individuals. We must have care that such a charge may not apply to us. In accepting 

 the gift now offered us, we bind ourselves, thtj^h tacitly yet firmly, to fulfil all the obli- 

 gations which belong to it, implied no less thandirect. 



