wn 
Académie Royale des Sciences, BRUXELLES, BELGIUM. 
Schweizerische Naturforschende Gesellschaft, LAUSANNE, SwITZER- 
LAND. 
Académie des Sciences, Dijon, FRANCE. 
Société de Geographie, Paris, FRANCE. 
Oxford University, OxFoRD, ENGLAND. 
Royal Observatory, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND. 
Literary and Philosophical Society, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND. 
University of California, Mount HamiuTon, Cat. 
Ohio Archeological and Historical Society, CoLUMBUs. 
Georgetown College, West WaAsHINGTON, D. C, 
Colorado Scientific Society, DENVER. 
Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society, CHareL Hiuu, N. C. 
United States Naval Institute, ANNAPOLIS, MD. 
United States Military Academy, West Point, N. Y. 
American Museum of Natural History, NEw Yor. 
University of North Carolina, CoarEL Hu, N. C. 
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, May 23, 1893, 11 a.m. 
The Society was called to order at 11 a.m. by the President,* 
Mr. Fraley, who delivered the following address: 
Gentlemen :—In May, 1743, when Benjamin Franklin put forth 
his proposals for the establishment of an American Philosophical 
Society in Philadelphia, he found, according to his letter, that the 
population of the British Colonies in North America had reached 
to such proportions, and the examinations that had been made of 
their natural resources and the industry and thrift that attended the 
whole population, showed that it was a favorable time for bringing 
the scientific men of the country into unison, and to establish a 
Society having for its model the Royal Society of London. 
What thoughts rise in our hearts when we contemplate the bold- 
ness of such an undertaking at such a time, and how naturally we 
realize the fact that the struggles of the Society for existence and 
progress were marked with all the usual infirmities that attend upon 
infancy ! 
During the last half of the eighteenth century, Europe was agi- 
tated by bloody and cruel wars, nation waging against ‘nation, 
* At this meeting General Isaac J. Wistar appeared, and, as a newly-elected member, 
was presented to the President, and took his seat. 
PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XXXII. 143. C. PRINTED NOY. 22, 18938. 
