54 
over a period of nearly its whole existence, have won for it a 
proud eminence, and given it high rank among the learned societies 
of the world. 
On this interesting anniversary it falls to my lot to bring to you 
the felicitations of the Massachusetts Historical Society, which was 
founded in Franklin’s native town and is the oldest association of 
its kind in the United States. The younger sister on this occasion 
sends her warmest greetings, and instructs me to express the hope 
that the same success and prosperity which have followed your 
growth during a long life of honor and usefulness may continue to 
abide with you, undiminished and unabated, for long generations 
to come. 
The President next introduced Chevalier Rousseau d’Hap- 
poncourt, K. K. Navy, who presented the congratulations of 
the Imperial Royal Academy of Vienna to the American Phil- 
osophical Society, as follows : 
SOCIETATI PHILOSOPHA PHILADELPHIENSI, C&SAREA ACADEMI& LIT- 
TERARVM, VINDOBONENSIS, SODALES S. 
Qvanti philosophiam qvam merito Cicero omnivm bonarvm arti- 
vm procreatricem et qvasi parentem esse dixit maiores vestri zesti- 
maverint ex eo colligitvr qvod iam ante hos annos centvm et 
qvinqvaginta Beniamin Franklinio dvce et avspice illam qvz nvne 
vestris consiliis regitvr societatem condidervnt ad eam disciplinam 
excolendam et promovendam. Probe enim intellexerant singvlorvm 
hominym doctorvm operam angvstis finibvs cirevmscriptam esse iis 
avtem in vnym corpvs conivnctis id effici vt lativs propagentvr 
stvdia ac permvitorvm animi ad satvs illos felicissimos excipiendos 
preparentvr. Ab his igitvr profecta initiis societas vestra non 
solvm de philosophia excolenda egregie mervit sed totam de rervm 
natvra doctrinam preclaris et laboriosis libris illvstravit lingvarvm- 
qve mvltarvm origines et rationes feliciter indagavit atqve diligenter 
explanavit. Merito igitvr diem qvem vtpote natalem societatis ves- 
tree vno et dimidio secvlo symmo cvm honore peracto sollemniter 
agitis vobiscvm celebramvs congratvlantes optimisqve votis vos atqve 
institvtvm vestrvm proseqventes. Firmissimo enim vobiscvm 
conivncti svmvs vincvlo pio litterarvm amore et svmmo stvdio iis 
