7 



The Museum is constantly receiving offers of speci- 

 mens and books, at very reasonable prices, among 

 which, we would refer to the very important letter 

 annexed from Dr. John C. Jay, of Rye, offering to 

 present his celebrated collection of shells, containing 

 over 50,000 specimens, when our institution can pur- 

 chase his library, consisting of Conchological and 

 other scientific works. 



A very important collection of the fossils of South 

 Carolina, from the Pleiocene and Post Pleiocene peri- 

 ods, has been offered, and a large and choice collection 

 of minerals, also rare mammals and skeletons ; and 

 the fact that one of the largest private collections of 

 birds, and rare works on Ornithology in the world is 

 soon to be offered for sale in Europe, compels us to 

 ask that our present subscription list of $80,000 be 

 increased to $200,000 at once. 



On nearly every day during fair weather, our halls 

 have been thronged by visitors, not only from our 

 own city and state, but from all parts of the country, 

 numbering frequently from 5,000 to 10,000. Large 

 numbers of pupils from the common schools of our city 

 and its suburbs have come in bodies to the Museum, 

 under the care of their teachers, who have been ena- 

 bled, by means of our collections, to impart much 

 useful instruction. 



Scientific men, and advanced scholars from several 

 colleges, have come to the city solely to profit by the 

 opportunity the Museum can already offer them, to 

 examine rare and unique specimens. 



The privileges which subscribers will hereafter en- 

 joy are stated in the first By-Law. As the import- 

 ance of this institution in promoting the study of 



