96 Academy of Natural Sciences. 



The Mincralogical cabinet embraces a fine series of American 

 minerals ; among which are many beautiful specimens from Lockport, 

 in N. y . collected and deposited by Mr. Thomas Fisher. They con- 

 sist chiefly of the carbonates and sulphates of lime, and the sulphate 

 of strontian. The salts of lead from the Perkiomen mine are pro- 

 bably the finest hitherto obtained from an American locality. The 

 European collection is also well chosen, though deficient in some 

 classes. A large proportion of the foreign specimens was presented 

 by the President of the Society, Mr. Maclure. A thousand choice 

 specimens, constituting the collection of Dr. Thomas McEuen, were 

 deposited by that gentleman with his characteristic liberality and love 

 of science : Mr. Henry Seybert, Mr. Jos. P. Smith and others, have 

 also of late contributed largely to this department. The mineral 

 collection now embraces, collectively, about three thousand speci- 

 mens. 



Such is the present situation of the Academy of Natural Scien- 

 ces ; and while we feel an honest pride in recording the success of a 

 favorite institution, our gratification is much enhanced by observing 

 the collateral exertions which are making in almost every section of 

 the Union to extend the boundaries of scientific information. The 

 American Philosophical Society, perhaps the oldest of our Scientific 

 and literary institutions, acting on the broad basis of " promoting 

 useful knowledge " has done and is still doing a laudable share in 

 the accomplishment of that great design, in which is included every 

 branch of natural history. The New York Lyceum, established 

 with similar views to the Academy, is not behind the latter in the tal- 

 ents and industry of its members, nor perhaps in the degree of its 

 success. Its " Annals" published on the same plan with the Acad- 

 emy's Journal, are indispensable to the student of American Natur- 

 al History, while its collections are already extensively numerous 

 and valuable. 



We might greatly expatiate on this pleasing subject, so fruitful in 

 promise to the cause of Science. Suffice it, in conclusion, to ob- 

 serve, that there is reason to hope that in a very few years, every 

 large town in the United States, will have a well organized institu- 

 tion for disseminating the knowledge of Natural History.* 



* The following is a list of the oflicers of the Academy of Natural Sciences for the 

 year 1830. President, William Maclure. Vice Presidents, Z. Collins, Geo. Ord. 

 Corresponding Sec'y, Reuben Haines. Recording Scc'tj, T. McEuen, M. D. Li- 

 SrarioM, Charles Pickering, M. D. TrcaAtwe/', Geo. W. Carpenter, Curators, 3. 

 P. Wclheriil, G. Hays, M. D., T. R. Peale, T. McEuen, M. D. 



