92 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



The Report of the Librarian mentions the munificent bequest of the library of Dr. 

 Greene, comprising 1,500 volumes or parts, many of which were costly illustrated works, 

 mostly upon botany. This was the largest addition ever made to the Library at any 



one time. 



The Curators had but little to report except that the collections were safely housed, 

 awaiting accommodations for exhibition in the new building. 



At the election of officers for the ensuing year, Mr. William T. Brigham was chosen 

 Curator of Mineralogy in place of Dr. John Bacon, and Mr. Thomas T. Bouve was chosen 

 Curator of Geology and Paleontology instead of Curator of Geology alone, which office he 

 had previously held, the two being combined in one department. 



The Building Committee had continued to act vigorously in the business of construction 

 and finish. Already the structure was approaching completion, and questions concerning 

 ornamentation, railing for balconies, tiling, heating apparatus, library and other cases, had 

 recently occupied their attention. 



In October the announcement was made of the sudden death of Dr. George Hayward, 

 one of the members of the Linnsean Society, and subsequently one of the founders and orig- 

 inal members of the Boston Society of Natural History. He was First Vice-President frcm 

 May, 1830 to May, 1832. 



October 21st Mr. Alpheus Hyatt was elected Curator of Conchology. 



On the 4th of November, the President of the Society reported on behalf of the Build- 

 ing Committee that the new building was nearly ready for occupancy and that the Library 

 room was quite so. It was therefore voted That the Library be moved forthwith and 

 that the next meeting of the Society be held at the new building, if gas is previously 

 introduced into it. It was also voted That the Curators be authorized to remove their 

 collections as soon as convenient. In accordance with the vote, and gas having been in 

 the meantime carried into the library room, the Society on the 18th of November for the 

 first time, met in their new and capacious building, 79 members being present. The 

 library had already, since the previous meeting, been removed to the room, and now oc- 

 cupied the shelves of the cases. 



In November of this year, another of the founders of the Society passed away, 

 Mr. Francis Alger. 



At the meeting held Dec. 2d, Mr. T. T. Bouve remarked that before proceeding to busi- 

 ness it seemed meet that the members of the Society should express their appreciation of 

 the loss it had sustained in the death of their friend and associate, Mr. Francis Al<rer. 



cj 



" Public spirited, he always felt a strong interest in all institutions designed for the wel- 

 fare of the people, and often gave of his means for their endowment. Especially was he 

 interested in the promulgation of knowledge relating to his favorite branch of science, 

 that of mineralogy. To further this he was always ready to give specimens, inviting 

 ihose interested in the study to select from his duplicates." 



" But a few days since he suggested to me his intention to send some very large speci- 

 mens of beryl and other minerals to adorn our grounds, and such was his interest in the 

 Society that I cannot but think his large collection would have come into our possession 

 at an early day, if his sudden departure had not prevented the fruition of his wishes." 



