Memoir of William Maclure. 399 



object, however, was not accomplished ; for in the ordering 

 of Providence he did not live to return. 



From New Haven Mr. Maclure proceeded to New York, 

 and embarked for Mexico. Time and distance, however, 

 could not estrange him from that solicitude which he had 

 long cherished for the advancement of education in his adopt- 

 ed country ; and from his remote residence he kept a con- 

 stant correspondence with his friends in the United States, 

 among whom was the author of this memoir. 



Mr. Say* died in 1834, at New Harmony ; and Mr. 

 Maclure was thus deprived of one of his oldest and firmest 

 friends. The loss seemed for a time to render him waver- 

 ing as to his future plans ; but convinced, on reflection, that 

 his educational projects in the West could be no longer 

 fostered or sustained, he resolved to transfer his library at 

 New Harmony to the Academy of Natural Sciences. This 

 rich donation was announced to the Society in the autumn 

 of 1835 ; and Dr. Charles Pickering, who had been for seve- 

 ral years librarian of the institution, was deputed to superin- 

 tend the conveyance of the books to Philadelphia ; a trust 

 which was speedily and safely accomplished. 



This second library contained 2259 volumes, embracing, 

 like the former one, works in every department of useful 

 knowledge, but especially Natural History and the Fine Arts, 

 together with an extensive series of maps and charts. 



Mr. Maclure's liberality, however, was not confined 

 to a single institution : the American Geological Society, 

 established, as we have already mentioned, at New Haven, 



* Mr. Say was one of the founders of the Academy ; and among the last acts of 

 life, he provided for the further utility of the institution by requesting that it should 

 become the depository of his books and collections. This verbal bequest was hap- 

 pily confided to one whose feelings and pursuits were congenial to his own ; and 

 the Academy is indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Say for some of its most valuable acquisi- 

 tions. 



An interesting and eloquent Memoir of Mr. Say, was written by Dr. Benjamin 

 Hornor Coates, and published under the auspices of the Academy in 1835. 



3 F 



