18 



opment of such an institution the Commissioners of the Park will highly 

 esteem your valuable co-operation. 



I am, gentlemen, with great respect, 

 (Signed) Andrew H. Green, 



Comptroller of the Central Park. 

 To James Brown, Alex. T. Stewart, John David Wolfe, and others. 

 On the 19th of January, 1869, a meeting of the gentlemen who signed the 

 above note of inquiry, was held at the residence of Benjamin H. Field, Esq., 

 and the following resolutions were unanimously passed : 



"Whereas, Nearly all the Capitals in Europe and more important cities in 

 our own land, including Boston, Philadelphia, "Washington, and Chicago, pos- 

 sess instructive and valuable Museums of Natural History, while New York — 

 notwithstanding its metropolitan position — is still destitute of such an institu- 

 tion: 



Resolved, That, recognizing the necessity of such a Museum as a means of 

 recreation and education, and desiring its establishment upon a scale commen- 

 surate with the wealth and importance of our great city, we have heard, with 

 much satisfaction, that the opportunity is now presented of securing by pur- 

 chase in Europe, the largest and most valuable collection of objects in Natural 

 History which has been offered for sale in many years. 



Resolved, That in our judgment immediate action should be taken to secure 

 this or some other collection as a nucleus of a great Museum. 



Resolved, That, therefore, a Committee be and is hereby appointed to raise 

 the necessary funds, and to act as Trustees for and dispose of the same, and of 

 the collection when acquired, and with full powers to do whatever may be 

 requisite or needful in connection with the business; said Committee to consist 

 of such of the signers of the recent letter of inquiry, dated December 30th, 

 1868, and addressed to the Commissioners of the Central Park, as may consent 

 to serve, with power to increase their number to twenty. 



The following gentlemen have already consented to serve as a Committee 

 and Trustees in accordance with the above Eesolntion. 



John David Wolfe, William T. Blodgett, 



Robert Colgate, Morris K. Jesup, 



Benjamin H. Field, D. Jackson Steward, 



Robert L. Stuart, J. Pierpont Morgan, 



Adrian Iselln, A. G-. P. Dodge, 



Benjamin B. Sherman, Charles A. Dana, 



William A. Haines, Joseph H. Choate, 



Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Parish. 



Howard Potter, 



New York, December 23, 1869. 



Andrew H. Green, Esq., Comptroller of the Central Park : 



Dear Sir — The Trustees of the American Museum of Natural History 



