83 



and active members. The removal of the Natural History Collection 

 of the Essex Institute to the Museum of the Peabocly Academy of 

 Science, and its re-arrangement there; the re- occupation of the cabi- 

 nets in Plummer Hall, by transferring to them the valuable historical 

 collections of the Institute, and the classification and arrangement 

 of the antiquities, have involved a large amount of pains-taking toil. 

 This, although less conspicuous to the public eye, is, nevertheless, 

 quite as satisfactory an evidence of vigorous life. 



But among other reasons which have had weight to lead the lecture 

 committee to decide against a course of lectures has been the expense 

 which necessarily attends such meetings. It is believed by many of 

 our number, that if the means could be obtained to heat and light the 

 lower room in Plummer Hall, a prolonged series of lectures could be 

 maintained which should be comparatively inexpensive to the public, 

 instructive, popular, and a source of income to the Institute. It is 

 also believed, that to make the semi-monthly meetings attractive, they 

 should be held elsewhere than in the narrow room to which they are 

 now confined. It is hoped that before another winter, the small sum 

 required to provide a furnace ; suitable gas fixtures, and seats, will 

 have been obtained, so that we may invite our friends to rooms more 

 attractive to an audience, certainly more inspiring to a lecturer. 

 Three lectures have been delivered at the regular meetings ; two from 

 Hon. Charles W. Upham, and one from Eobert Eantoul, Esq. Owing 

 to these and other addresses or written communications, the semi- 

 monthly meetings have abounded in interesting instruction. 



Of the Field Meetings it is hardly necessary to add that the five held 

 during the past year afforded great pleasure and much valuable in- 

 formation to a large number of members and their friends who at- 

 tended them. The spirit in which the citizens of the places visited 

 have received the Institute and participated in its deliberations, 

 shows how wisely chosen is this method of arousing and maintaining 

 public interest in natural science and local history. 



Contributions brought to the cabinets of the Institute have been as 

 numerous as heretofore. 



The SUPERINTENDENT of the Museum stated that the various 



changes which had taken place during the past two years, and the 



transfer of the Natural History Collections to the charge of the Trus- 



,tees of the Peabody Academy of Science, would necessarily make his 



report quite brief. 



At the last annual meeting the majority of the specimens compris- 

 ing the scientific portion of the Museum, were reported as having 

 been transferred to the Academy, and we have now the pleasure of 

 stating that the Museum of the Academy, embracing the larger part of 

 the collections of the East India Marine Society, and the scientific 



