1861.] MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 47 



doubtedly much below the sum you have thus expended, still they 

 are sensible that the importance of what you have now so freely con- 

 tributed to the cause of science is to be measured by no such modes 

 of computation. For, they are aware, that to you personally — to your 

 genius, your love of science, your courage and disinterestedness — the 

 original establishment of the Museum of Comparative Zoology is due 

 more than to any other cause whatever, or to all other causes united. 

 They are aware that you have personally given what they believe 

 will prove a decisive and guiding impulse to the study of Natural 

 History in these United States. They therefore cannot accept your 

 munificent gift without remembering that, whatever may have been 

 its pecuniary* cost, your character and services have imparted to it 

 much the largest portion of its great and acknowledged value. Neither 

 can they omit to express their earnest hope not only that you may 

 long live to enjoy and sustain the institution which you have founded, 

 but that future generations, mindful of what they owe you, may, with 

 equal fidelity, carry on the work you have begun with so much energy 

 and success. 



We remain very faithfully your friends, 



Nathaniel P. Banks, 

 Governor of the Commonwealth. 



Eliphalet Trask, 

 Lieutenant-Governor. 



Charles A. Phelps, 

 President of the Senate. 



John A. Goodwin, 

 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 



George S. Boutwell, 

 Secretary of the Board of Education. m 



Lemuel Shaw, 

 Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court. 



William Gray. 



Jacob Bigelow. 



James Walker. 



George Ticknor. 



Nathaniel Thayer. 



S. Hooper. 



Samuel G. Ward. 



James Lawrence. 



