REPORT. 



The Trustees of the American Museum of Natural 

 History have the pleasure of presenting to the sub- 

 scribers to the funds of the museum, this, their 

 First Annual Report, accompanied by copies of their 

 Charter, Constitution, Correspondence, and Reports of 

 the Committees and Treasurer. 



On the thirtieth of December, 1868, a number of 

 gentlemen addressed a letter to the Commissioners of 

 the Central Park, expressing their desire that a great 

 Museum of Natural History should be established in 

 the Park, and enquiring if the Commissioners were 

 disposed to provide for its reception and develop- 

 ment, to which a favorable reply was received. 



On the nineteenth of January, 1869, the following 

 preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted : 



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 me- 

 tropolitan position, is still destitute of such an in- 

 stitution : 



