BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 21 



there was no concentration of opinions or of knowledge, and no means of knowing how 

 much or how little was known. The laborer in natural history worked alone, without aid 

 or encouragement from others engaged in the same pursuits, and without the approbation 

 of the public mind, which regarded them as busy triflers." 



In August of this year Dr. Martin Gay reported in reference to some objects which he 

 had been requested to give an account of, that it was impossible to do so, because of the 

 want of necessary books. 



In October the Council held a meeting for the especial object of arranging the Hall, 

 which the Society was to occupy, for the Cabinet. 



In December, recognizing the importance of a permanent fund, it was voted in Council 

 assembled — That all money received from Patrons and Life Members should be invested in 

 bank stock for the purpose of creating one. 



Probably the most important event of the year was the election to membership of Mr. 

 Ambrose S. Courtis, whose subsequent benefactions were a great aid to the Society when, by 

 reason of increased expenditure it had become considerably in debt, and when its efficiency 

 seemed likely to be much impaired, to say the least, for the want of means to carry on its 

 work. 



In March, 1833, the hall engaged for the Society over the Savings Bank in Tremont 

 Street, being represented as ready or nearly ready for occupancy, a committee was 

 appointed to remove articles to it, and in May following this committee reported that the 

 cabinet had been transferred and would be arranged as soon as circumstances would 

 admit. It was announced at the same time that the Historical Society had voted to 

 deposit its collection of Natural History in the cabinet of this Society. 



Arrangements were made early in the year for a course of lectures in the winter of 

 1833 and 1834, and the committee having this business in charge, reported that Audubon 

 would deliver the introductory one, that the Rev. Dr. Greenwood would give two ; 

 Dr. Harris, three ; Dr. Gould, one ; Dr. Otis, one ; F. C. Gray, one ; and Dr. C. T. Jack- 

 son, two. It was subsequently stated that as Mr. Gray had declined to serve, Dr. Bradford 

 had been substituted in his place, and that he would give two lectures. The committee 

 considered it expedient to pay $15 for each lecture. 



Dr. J. V. C. Smith, an active member of the Society, who had devoted much time to the 

 study of fishes, and had made quite a large collection of them, offered to sell aU that he 

 possessed at a very low price, and a committee appointed for the purpose of considering 

 the subject, having reported in favor of securing them for the cabinet, they were 

 purchased for the sum of |10(). The collection was contained mainly in 141 glass 

 vessels, many having several specimens, and was generally in good condition. Besides the 

 contents of the bottles, there were several dried preparations. 



At the Annual election of ofl&cers in May, Mr. Chas. K. Dillaway was chosen Librarian 

 in place of Mr. Charles Amory, resigned, and Dr. Chas. T. Jackson, Curator, in place of 

 Mr. Clement Durgin, resigned. 



The president, B. D. Greene, at one of the meetings of the Council of the Society this 

 year, expressed a strong desire that a fund of $5000 might be raised, the interest of 



