222 



periment related by Mr. Justice at the last meeting of the So- 

 ciety, and stated it as his belief, that if the needle had been 

 carefully examined it would have been found not to be wetted. 



Dr. Patterson reminded the Society, that about two years 

 ago he had described a speaking automaton, which had been 

 made and afterwards destroyed by Mr. Joseph Faber. He re- 

 ferred to various attempts which had been made to accomplish 

 this object, which had been but partially successful, although 

 universally regarded as the results of great ingenuity on the 

 part of their inventors. The automaton in question could pro- 

 nounce all words. Since then Mr. Faber has made a new in- 

 strument similar to the former, which was completed only a 

 few days ago. Dr. P. stated, that he had witnessed its per- 

 formances, and that they were at least equal to those of its pre- 

 decessor; all words are produced by it as in the former instru- 

 ment by various combinations of sixteen elementary sounds. 



The Committee on Finance reported that they had examined 

 the Treasurer's report, and found it correct, and recommended 

 certain yearly appropriations, which were agreed to. 



The list of outstanding Committees on business, was read. 



Mr. Peale, on behalf of the Curators to obtain the standards 

 of measure, reported in part. 



On motion of Mr. Fraley, the Committee on Mr. Parker's 

 claim was discharged, and the unfinished business referred to 

 the Committee on Finance. 



The Curators charged with removing the skeleton of the ele- 

 phant from the Philadelphia Museum to the Hall, were dis- 

 charged from the duty. 



The Librarian was discharged from the farther duty of dis- 

 posing of the copies of Mr. Du Ponceau's Essay on the Chinese 

 Language. 



The Society proceeded to the consideration of the resolu- 

 tions reported by the Committee on the By-laws, which, on 

 motion, were adopted, in the following form: — 



" A resident member, who shall allow himself to be indebted for 

 the annual contribution of three successive years, shall be deemed to 

 have forfeited his membership ; provided, however, that the Commit- 

 tee of Finance may, at their discretion, in any particular case, sus- 

 pend the action of this paragraph. 



