114 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



The address stated that St. Louis was most fortunately 

 situated for work in natural science, being on the edge 

 of that " immense tract of country that lies between the 

 western borders of civilization and the Pacific ocean," 

 upon which ' ' the attention of the scientific world is every 

 day becoming more strongly fixed," because of its geo- 

 logical peculiarities, its immense mineral resources and 

 its abundant fauna and flora. 



A museum had been started, an effort made to estab- 

 lish a botanical garden, and a library of about one hun- 

 dred volumes gathered, when, through lack of support, 

 the Western Academy of Natural Sciences ceased to ex- 

 ist. Just how many years the Academy was active is 

 not known. On April 17, 1843, however, the society 

 elected to honorary membership John James Audubon. 

 The diploma was signed by George Engelmann, Presi- 

 dent; B. B. Brown, Vice-President; Wm. R. Singleton, 

 Corresponding Secretary ; and L. M. Sell, Recording Sec- 

 retary. 



For a score or more years informal metings of the 

 local scientists were no doubt held and the slumbering 

 Academy discussed. Finally the opportune moment for 

 relighting the lamp of science seems to have arrived, 

 when, according to previous agreement, Drs. Engelmann, 

 Prout, Wislizenus, Pope, Pallen, Tingley, Stevens, Mc- 

 Pheeters, and Shumard, and Messrs. Charles P. Chou- 

 teau and James B. Eads assembled on the eighth of Feb- 

 ruary, 1856, to form in St. Louis a society for the cultiva- 

 tion of various branches of science. Dr. Engelmann was 

 called to the chair, and Dr. Shumard appointed Secre- 

 tary. Dr. Pallen stated that the acknowledged want of 

 an institution in the west for the cultivation of various 

 branches of science had caused a desire in the minds of 

 those present to found one in this city. Its object should 

 be especially the investigation of subjects pertaining to 

 the various branches of science, the accumulation of a 

 scientific library, and the formation of a museum, which 

 should contain collections in the various departments 



