BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 103 



" The lectures which followed in successive weeks were by Professor Wy man, President of 

 the Society of Natural History, Professor Rogers, of the Institute of Technology, Dr. Augus- 

 tus A. Gould, Rev. R. C. Waterston, D.D., and Professor Gray of Harvard University. They 

 embraced branches of natural history of the deepest interest, and when it is remembered 

 that here were assembled some six hundred teachers, having daily under their care more 

 than twenty-seven thousand children, it may readily be believed that a fresh impulse must 

 have been given, which could not fail to be beneficial and widely felt. Wholly aside from 

 the valuable knowledge thus imparted and acquired, the memorable fact not to be over- 

 looked or forgotten, is this, that one of the ablest bodies of scientific men in our commu- 

 nity thus publicly extended the most courteous hospitalities to the teachers of the public 

 schools, inviting them to meet, through successive weeks, at the spacious hall, arranging 

 gratuitous lectures upon various branches of natural history, by men especially qualified 

 to give valuable information, and to awaken interest among the teachers for whose particu- 

 lar advantage they were given." 



At the close of the last lecture, the teachers unanimously passed resolutions expressive of 

 their recognition of the generous action of the Society, thanking the lecturers warmly, and 

 especially the Rev. R. C. Waterston, for the interest he had manifested in the success of the 

 intellectual entertainments to which they had been invited. 



On the 5th day of April, 1865, the President announced the death of Dr. William J. 

 Walker, which event took place at Newport, R. I., on the 2d inst. He remarked upon the 

 great interest Dr. Walker had shown in our welfare, and offered the following resolution, 

 which was passed unanimously : 



"Resolved, That the Boston Society of Natural History recognize in the death of Dr. 

 William Johnson Walker the loss of their greatest benefactor, and in view of his munifi- 

 cent gifts to this Society and his beneficent aid to the cause of education and science, we 

 would ever hold his name in honorable and grateful remembrance." 



A motion was made at this meeting significant of the anxious feelings that pervaded the 

 public mind at this important crisis in our country's experience. The rebel army under 

 Lee had just been forced from Richmond and was being pursued by General Grant with 

 all the forces at his disposal. Everybody was in hourly expectation of decisive news, and 

 too much excited to calmly consider ordinary matters. 



Dr. Augustus A. Gould therefore moved : " That in view of the absorbing interests of the 

 hour in national affairs, the Society adjourn, and hold an informal meeting for the expres- 

 sion of sentiment." 



This motion was passed, and the Society as such adjourned. An informal meeting then 

 followed, and brief addresses were made on the subject that agitated all minds, by Drs. 

 Wyman, Gould and Jeffries, Prof. Chadbourne, and Messrs. Ross and Bouve*. 



Of the great benefactor of the Society, concerning whom action was taken by it as 

 mentioned above, the following notice is presented : 



DR. WILLIAM JOHNSON WALKER. 



Dr. William Johnson Walker was born March loth, 1789, at Charlestown, Mass. His 

 father, Major Timothy Walker, was a prominent citizen of the town, and came originally 

 from Burlington, Mass., where he, as well as his wife, was born. 



