WILLIAM MACLURB. 25 



demand any eulogium from us. It is rare that afflu- 

 ence, liberality and the possession and love of science" 

 unite so signally in the same individual."* 



Since the year 18 26 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 necessity of a fire-proof building. 

 In order to accomplish this object he first transferred 

 to the Society a claim on an unsettled estate for the 

 sum of five thousand dollars, which was followed in 

 1S37 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 erection 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 1S39; 

 on which occasion an appropriate Address was deli- 

 vered by Professor Johnson. The edifice thus aus- 

 piciously begun, was conducted without delay to 

 completion: so that the first meeting of the Society 

 within its walls was held on the 7th day of February 

 1840. 



* liner. Jour, of w^cience, vol. iii, p. 862. 

 4 



