12 Mr. Grecmvood^s Address 



ino" a Journal, in which the observations and discoveries 

 of members and correspondents may be saved from ob- 

 livion, and contributed to the general fund of scientific 

 knowledge, and through which we may be brought into 

 useful and pleasant fellowship with other scientific soci- 

 eties, at home and abroad. Though such a work ought 

 not to be undertaken, until after a mature consideration of 

 . the whole ground of the enterprise, there is no doubt that 

 it would, if well conducted, meet with encouragement 



and be rewarded with honor. 



And by what means are we to secure the desirable 



objects which have been specified ? What is it which 

 will enable us to store our hall with the beautiful and 

 wonderful works of nature, fill our library wdth the need- 

 ed volumes, and take a stand among the promoters of 

 science and useful learning ? It must be that zeal, with- 

 out which no enterprise of any importance ever did or 

 ever can succeed. It must be that true Interest in our 

 professed purposes, which w^ill prompt us to devote, ac- 

 cording to our ability, labor or means to their advance- 

 ment. It must be that noble sentiment, flowing from the 

 great fount of charity, which impels a man to give up 

 something of that which he calls his own, something 

 which he legally might, and w hich the selfish man always 

 does devote to his strictly personal Interests and pleasures 

 to ^ve up something of this to the cause which he has 

 espoused, to the good of others, to the common weal. It 



very 



so connected, in our 

 hom our first and chief 



cannot 



pursuits which are extraneous to our immediate obliga- 

 tions ; — but we can take a little from our leisure, and a 

 little from our indulgences, and a little from our rest, and 

 make our very amusement and healthful recreation con- 



