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 Pacifie 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, Me- 
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 
