1876] 333 [Annual Eeport. 



events as they happen, and are practically useful as historical 

 records. The inexperienced or hopeful author, however, too 

 often regards this annual essay as his only effectual means of 

 appealing to the outside world for the relief of pressing 

 necessities, or, perhaps, for pecuniary assistance in carrying 

 out new plans, until years of repeated failure gradually pro- 

 duce the conviction, that all such appeals are worthless; and 

 that they neither awaken sympathy, nor bring aid of any 

 kind. 



The utter inutility of printed matter is quite remarkable. 

 The repeated assurances conveyed in our reports, and in 

 various published statements of the Treasurer and other offi- 

 cers which have from time to time appeared, have not shaken 

 in the least degree the general belief of the community that 

 we are a rich society. This impression continues to be held, 

 even by those perfectly well aware of the fact that our in- 

 come would barely maintain a private family in respectable 

 comfort in this neighborhood. We are not only expected 

 to make progress as if our income were fifty thousand in- 

 stead of ten, but this same impression is nursed and kept 

 alive in some quarters, by a spirit of criticism which is 

 utterly regardless of the facts in the case. I am sorry to 

 say, also, that this is not always done by inexperienced men, 

 but often by those of greater or less scientific knowledge and 

 acquirements, who are supposed to know something of the 

 means at the command of the Society, and to be able to 

 judge of the propriety or impropriety of the expenditures. 

 It is strange that those who have so much to lose by the 

 weakening of the influence and importance of scientific in- 

 stitutions should not be more cautious and considerate in 

 what they say about them. 



A very marked instance of this has occurred since this was 

 written, but fortunately in so public a maimer that the want 

 of truthfulness and honesty in the whole criticism was easily 

 exposed. 



