452 RECORDS 



do not need an elaborate meeting place ; but there is a certain 

 stimulus in the scientific atmosphere of the historic associations 

 which cluster around this Academy, which we shall lack until 

 we secure a building of our own. We ask the intelligent peo- 

 ple of this city, who owe everything they possess to the appli- 

 cations of science, for two large funds. First, an endowment 

 fund for the publication of our researches ; this fund should 

 not be less than $6o,000. This, in my judgment, is of more 

 pressing importance than the buildmg. 



Secondly, we ask for a building fund for a suitable meeting 

 place, which we propose to share with the other societies of the 

 Scientific Alliance. To this fund one of our Patrons, Mrs. Es- 

 ther Herrman, has already generously contributed. 



Upon the whole the sections of the Academy have gained 

 steadily in strength. We regret that the disbandonment of the 

 Philological section became necessary. At the same time we 

 appreciate the fact that the Anthropologists have recently orga- 

 nized an Ethnological Society, but will continue to hold part of 

 their meetings with us ; this branch of science, stimulated by 

 the expeditions of the American Museum of Natural History, 

 promises to be very strong. We have added Chemistry to the 

 subjects covered by the Astronomical and Physical section. 



During the past year I regret to say that some of our most 

 distinguished Honorary Members have passed away. Among 

 these are the veteran chemists. Professor Bunsen, of Heidel- 

 berg, and Sir Edward Frankland, Foreign Secretary of the 

 Royal Society of London. We also mourn the loss of Sir 

 William Dawson, the eminent geologist and palaeontologist of 

 Canada ; and of Professor Geinitz, who long held a leading 

 position in Germany. I must refer to the death of Sir William 

 Plower, Director of the British Museum of Natural History, as 

 a personal loss, for I had the pleasure of esteeming him among 

 my warm friends. He rendered great services to the study of 

 mammals and to the development of scientific museums. 



In retiring from the Presidency, I desire to express my warm 

 appreciation of the honor you have conferred upon me, and I 

 trust you will give equally cordial support to my successor. 



