PMEFACE. 



X HE design of forming a Society, which might combine the 

 efforts of literary men in Connecticut, for the promotion of useful 

 knowledge, was suggested early in the year 1799. A few gentle- 

 men in New-Haven attended a meeting at an invitation given ; and 

 a sketch of the principal objects of such an Association was commu- 

 nicated, together with the outline of the proposed Society, which 

 T/as named " The Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences." 



At a meeting on the fourth of March, the Gentlemen, who had 

 associated, adopted a number of regulations, as bye-laws for their 

 government ; and elected a number of gentlemen in various parts 

 of the Slate to be Members. At a subsequent meeting, certain fun- 

 damental articles were adopted as the Constitution of the Academy, 

 by which were prescribed the terms of admission to membership. 

 In October following, the Academy, on petition, obtained from the 

 Legislature the Act of Incorporation, which is subjoined. 



The Academy meets annually on the fourth Tuesday of Octo- 

 ber, for the choice of its Officers, and holds stated meetings on the 

 fourth Tuesday of December, February, April, June, and August. 

 Tke Officers are a President, Vice-Presidents, five Counsellors, a 

 Secretary, Treasurer, Keeper of the Cabinet, a Committee of Pub- 

 lication, and Corresponding Secretaries. . 



One considerable object proposed by this Association, was to col- 

 lect for publication a Statistical Account of the State of Connecticut ; 

 and to the accomplishment of this object they have directed their at- 

 tention and exertions. On the first of January 1800, they addressed 

 a circular letter to every town in the State, containing the subjects 

 of inquiry arranged under thirty-two distinct heads, and requesting 

 answers to their inquiries. This letter was printed and distributed. 

 In a subsequent address, the Academy urged an attention to the 

 fiubject of those inquiries, and suggested a plan, by which they sup? 



