284. [Nov. 2, 
The experience of the English miner with automatic fire-damp indica- 
tors, particularly Ansell’s, which the speaker thought a more sensitive 
fire-damp detector than Dr, Kintses’s, goes to prove that the use of such 
instruments is not practical. The mine laws if rigidly enforced would 
diminish the risk of fire-damp explosions and the resulting loss of life more 
than any other means. The experience of Mr. Ashburner in fiery mines 
was adduced in support of his views. 
The reading of pending nominations Nos. 985 to 1006 was 
postponed, 
The Report of the Curators on Bishop de Schweinitz’s letter 
was read and accepted, and the resolution recommended there- 
in was agreed to. (See below.) 
Mr. Fraley reported that he had received and paid over to 
the Treasurer the interest on the Michaux Legacy due Octo- 
ber Ist, amounting to $132.43. 
Mr. Lesley was authorized to insert in the minutes the fol- 
lowing correction of the note in his communication on the 
Progress of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, in 
Chester county, read January 19, 1883 (Proceedings No. 113, 
page 539, lines 17, 18), which he desired to have read as fol- 
lows: 
“The delay in’ the publication was caused by an unforseen and un- 
avoidable delay in the receipt of Dr. Frazer’s notes which form the latter 
part of the volume.’’ 
A Committee of five, consisting of Dr. Brinton, Mr. Price, 
Dr. Horn, Mr. Phillips and Dr. Frazer was appointed to report 
what improvement, if any, can be made in the mode of ballot- 
ing for members, and the meeting was adjourned, 
Letter of Bishop de Schweinttz. 
To the President and Directors of the American Philosophical Society : 
GENTLEMEN : In accordance with a resolution adopted by the Directors 
of the ‘Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen,’’ I here- 
with respectfully request you to return, at your earliest convenience, the 
seven Manuscripts by Zecisberger and Pyrleus on Indian languages, 
which Manuscripts are the property of said Society, and which were de- 
posited in your Library subject to a call from our Board. Their titles 
and the fact that they were deposited by our Society, are set forth in Vol. I 
of your Transactions, 1819. I inclose a list of these Manuscripts. 
The reason why we now claim them is, that the Church has made com- 
