226 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



As a result of this, a board of visitors or directors was formed of 

 twenty-five individuals. Thomas Jefferson was elected president, and 

 among the others present were Alexander Hamilton, James Madison,, 

 Thos. Mifflin, Eobert Morris, David Eittenhouse and Dr. Caspar Wistar. 

 In the registration book of season ticket holders for the year 1794, the 

 first signature is that of George Washington, who signed for four 

 tickets. Then follow the names of John Adams, Munroe, etc. The 

 fact that he was able to procure the aid of such men and the fact that 

 he was allowed the use of Independence Hall rent free for a time and 

 later for a nominal rental, all show that the museum was recognized 

 as a valuable institution. 



The decades 1790-1810, during which Peale was most active, com- 

 posed part of the period of American zoology called by Brown Goode 3 

 the period of Jefferson. The influence that the great statesman ex- 

 erted Goode compared to that of Agassiz in a later period. Among 

 the medical profession of the country were a few men interested in 

 natural history. These centered about the newly founded medical 

 school of the University of Pennsylvania. The ones only that might 

 be placed in a class with Jefferson were Caspar Wistar and Benjamin 

 Smith Barton. Later may be mentioned the names of Wilson, Ord 

 and Eafinesque. 



At this time the pure sciences centered around the American Philo- 

 sophical Society. The minute books of the society show that from the 

 time that Peale was elected a member in 1786, he was rarely absent 

 from a meeting. Eenting, as he did, a large part of the hall and being 

 librarian and curator, he was for many years closely identified with it. 



In 1804, Baron Humboldt, Bompland, the botanist, and a Peruvian 

 gentleman, Montrefar, arrived in Philadelphia from the famous trip 

 to South America. Peale was a member of an informal committee 

 from the Philosophical Society to see to their reception. The commit- 

 tee went with the travelers to Washington, where they were entertained 

 by President Jefferson. Of this journey Peale writes to his brother- 

 in-law in New York: 



However, I have been richly repaid for the expense and trouble of a 

 journey, by the agreeable conversation of Baron Humboldt, who is, without 

 exception, the most extraordinary traveler I have ever met with; he is a foun- 

 tain of knowledge that flows in copious streams; to drop this metaphore, he is 

 a great luminary diffusing light in every branch of science, I say diffusing 

 because he is so communicative of his knowledge, which has been treasured up 

 in his travels of upward of nineteen years. 



The Baron sat before Peale for his portrait and on sailing for France 

 Peale presented him with a mounted specimen of an alligator. This 



3 (or. Brown Goode, " Beginnings of American Science," Proc. Bio. Sci. 

 Wash.. Vol. IV.. 85. 



