Natural History in America is now beginning to be 

 made manifest, the Trustees confidently appeal to all 

 who have at heart the interest of our city and coun- 

 try, for the means to enable it to accomplish its 

 important mission. 



R. L. STUART, 



President. 

 THEODORE ROOSEVELT, 



Secretary. ' 



All communications should be addressed, Ameri- 

 can Museum of Natural History, Central Park, 

 New- York. 



Rye, Westchester Co., N. Y. ) 



November 4th, 1811. f 



To the Trustees of the American Museum of Natural History, 



Gentlemen — Having devoted a large part of my life to the science of Con- 

 chology, I am deeply interested in the great enterprise so nobly inaugurated by 

 the citizens of New York, for the establishment of a Museum of Natural History 

 which shall be fully worthy of our metropolitan city. 



My collection of shells comprises fourteen thousand species, twenty thousand 

 varieties, and fifty thousand specimens, and has cost me many years of continued 

 labor, and over twenty-five thousand dollars. 



My library consists of 850 bound volumes, many of them obtained by giving 

 unlimited orders, and is probably the most complete of its kind in America. It 

 has cost over $10,000, but if the friends of science in New York City will enable 

 you to purchase it at that price, I will present to the Museum my entire collection 

 of shells described above. 



Believing that your institution will enjoy continued and increasing prosperity 

 and soon become of national importance, and awaiting the favor of an early 

 reply, I am, 



Very truly yours, 



JOHN C JAY. 



