518 
had been already delivered by mail, this 
otherwise tedious part of the program was 
not unduly prolonged. 
The president then delivered his _his- 
torical address as follows: 
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT 
Fellow Members and Guests: This is one 
of the occasions which stimulate reflection. 
To-day we must all feel a regret that we 
ean not inherit the learning of those who 
have gone before us. So keen an appre- 
ciation do I possess of the unselfish devo- 
tion of my predecessors to science and to 
this institution, and so impressed am I at 
our monthly meetings in our reading room 
by the regard of their portraits hanging 
on our walls, that I am impelled to call 
upon them in spirit to join me in extending 
to our guests the heartiest of welcome and 
to say that we, the present workers, fully 
appreciate how much eredit is due them 
for our present success. 
To-day this City of Brotherly Love, with 
the mother commonwealth, Pennsylvania, 
in common with the great union of states, 
is in peace with all the nations of the globe. 
This blessed condition did not prevail on 
the day when our forefathers assembled 
one hundred years ago, to organize an in- 
stitution for the study and advancement of 
the natural sciences. During the last days 
of the year 1811, the dispute between the 
United States and Great Britain and the 
doubt as to the attitude of France seemed 
to indicate that the national honor was 
hurt and that another contest with a Euro- 
pean power was at hand. The commerce 
of the country had suffered. The Com- 
mittee on Foreign Relations recited the 
wrongs that the United States had suffered 
from Great Britain, and declared it to be 
the sacred duty of Congress to call forth 
the patriotism and resources of the coun- 
try. Extensive military measures were 
SCIENCE 
[N.S. Vou. XXXV. No. 901 
recommended. The Pennsylvania Legis- 
lature passed acts for enlarging the regi- 
ment of artillery and for the organization 
of the cavalry of the city of Philadelphia. 
Although war was not declared until June, 
1812, in anticipation of the necessities of 
the situation Congress approved a loan of 
eleven million dollars, of which one million 
six hundred and forty-five thousand dollars 
was raised in Philadelphia. 
Large meetings of people took place all 
over the city to consider the needs of com- 
mercial interests and to pass resolutions 
for the equipment of privateers and for 
building up the defenses of the city. 
The legislature relieved the tension of its 
patriotic resolutions by requesting a special 
committee to examine a machine made by 
Charles Redhefer, who claimed that it pos- 
sessed the power of self motion, and naively 
stated that ‘‘if the machine be found to be 
imperfect the public interest will be pro- 
moted by exposing its fallacy.’’ 
In the midst of these excitements the 
youth of the city naturally sought the tav- 
erns and oyster cellars as meeting places, 
as indeed there was little in the way of 
diversion provided for the people of that 
period. The theater was seldom opened, 
and the feeling against it was so-strong that 
a petition was presented to the legislature 
requesting it to abolish forever the exhibi- 
tion of ‘‘Theatricles.’’ Peale’s Museum 
enjoyed great popularity, and here the 
lusus natura was in steady demand. The 
ealf with five legs vied for public favor 
with the child without ears. 
Notwithstanding the preparations for 
war which were draining the resources of 
all men, the fathers of this institution had 
such faith in the future of the United 
States of America that they did not hesi- 
tate, even with the din of martial demon- 
strations in their ears and the consciousness 
of an awful, impending struggle with 
