WILLIAM MACLURE. 15 



exertion. Happily, however, the day of doubt has 

 passed ; and our State governments now vie with 



each other in revealing those buried treasures which 

 minister so largely to the wealth, the comfort and 

 the intelligence of man. 



The time which Mr. Maclure allotted to repose 

 from his Geological pursuits was chiefly passed in 

 Philadelphia: where he watched the rise of a young 

 but promising institution, devoted exclusively to Na- 

 tural History, and numbering among its members 

 whatever our city then possessed of scientific taste 

 and talent. This institution was the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; and as its 

 history, from this period, is inseparably connected 

 with the life of Mr. Maclure, let us pause and inquire 

 into its origin and progress. 



The Academy was founded in January, 1812, at 

 which period a few gentlemen, at first but seven in 

 number, revived to meet once in every week for the 

 purpose of conversing on scientific subjects, and thus 

 communicating to each other the results of their 

 reading, observation and reflection. 



Although Mr. Maclure was absent from the city 



at the initiatory meeting, he had no sooner returned 



than his name was enrolled on the list of members; 



and from that hour and with this circumstance the 



sperity of the institution commenced. Arrange- 



