672 NOTES. 
the Arctic regions, richly laden with specimens, a part of which were to 
become the property of the Academy. In the winter of 1863-4 advantage 
was taken of Prof. Agassiz’ Haw to Chicago to gain his opinion of the 
value of the collections secured by Mr. Kennicott. His endorsement of 
Mr. Kennicott’s work, and his tf the importance of the formation of 
a great museum in the Northwest was so strong an incentive that money 
was at once secured (a large sum being given at an impromptu pre 
afterwards greatly increased by the efforts of Mr. Scammon) and the 
Mr. Kennicott was appointed Director. In 1863 Mr. core x 
order to add to the materials of the museum, iaten the appointm 
the Russian American Telegraph Survey. From this ill- psc aa n 
he never returned. At this time the charge of ae museum was given to 
Dr. Stimpson. On June 7, 1866, a large part of the collection of over forty 
thousand specimens, and all the plates for the first part of the ‘‘ Transac- 
tions” were destroyed by fire. Soon afterwards the text of the same 
volume while in the hands of the printer met the same fate. The Acad- 
emy however started forward with renewed vigor, and erected what in 
any ordinary fire would have been a fire proof building. Its collections 
lamity it had within its walls one of the,in many respects, most valuable 
collections in the country, including the larger part of the crustacea and 
other invertebrates belonging to the Government and Smithsonian collec- 
tions, and the crustaceans dredged by kiygan which had been sent to 
the Academy for Dr. Stimpson to describe. The State collection of in- 
sects made by the late Mr. Walsh, had wi been deposited at the Academy. 
The Academy had published its first volume of ‘‘ Transactions” and 
forty-eight pages of its “ Proceedings.” The second volume of ‘ Trans- 
action a forward condition, and many pages stereotyped and 
several plates aiai and stored at the Academy. 
After remarks on the great loss which science had met, and a descrip- 
tion of the character of the collections destroyed, Mr. F. W. Putnam, 
vice president of natural history, offered the following Resolutions, which 
were seconded with remarks by Drs. Bolles and Morse, the president and 
others, and unanimously passed. 
That _ Essex we tenders its sympathy to its sister society, the 
CHICAGO A F SCIENCES, in her second trial by fire, in ane she has lost 
not only her kaane | but all Da specimens, books and publication 
Resolved. That the Institute hereby promises to furnish such a the publications as 
the Chicago Academy of Sciences may desire, and to render such other assistance as 
possible in the efforts of the Academy to arise for a second time ei the a: . 
not, as editors of the NaruraLIsT, make a special pier at 
ing so much for the cause of education in the great Northwest. Can we 
not hope, even though so much is yet to be done for the homeless of the 
great city, and the other towns that have been simultaneously devastated 
by fire, that the friends of science will aid all they can in giving encour- 
agement to the members of the Academy in this severe trial? 
