400 Memoir of William Maclure. 



partook largely of his benefactions both in books and speci- 

 mens ; and in reference to these repeated contributions, 

 Professor Silliman has expressed the following brief, but just 

 and beautiful acknowledgment : " This gentleman's liberality 

 to purposes of science and humanity has been too often and 

 too munificently experienced in this country, to demand any 

 eulogium from us. It is rare that affluence, liberality and 

 the possession and love of science unite so signally in the 

 same individual."* 



Since the year 1826 the Academy had occupied an edifice 

 in some respects well adapted to its objects ; but the extent 

 and value of the library, suggested to Mr. Maclure the ne- 

 cessity of a fire-proof building. In order to accomplish this 

 object he first transferred to the Society a claim on an unset- 

 tled estate for the sum of five thousand dollars, which was 

 followed in 1837 by a second donation of the same amount. 

 Meanwhile, having matured the plan of the new Hall of the 

 Academy, and having submitted his views to the members, 

 he transmitted, in 1838, an additional subscription for ten 

 thousand dollars. 



Thus sustained by the splendid liberality of their venerable 

 President, the Society proceeded without delay in the erec- 

 tion of the new Hall. The corner stone was laid at the 

 corner of Broad and George streets, with due form, on the 

 25th of May 1839; on which occasion an appropriate Ad- 

 dress was delivered by Professor Johnson. The edifice thus 

 auspiciously begun, was conducted without delay to comple- 

 tion ; so that the first meeting of the Society within its walls 

 was held on the 7th day of February 1840. 



Mr. Maclure had fervently desired and fully expected to 

 revisit Philadelphia ; but early in the year 1839 his constitu- 

 tion suffered several severe shocks of disease, and from that 

 period age and its varied infirmities grew rapidly upon him. 



* Amer. Jour, of Science, vol. iii, p. 362. 



