Annual Report.] 342 [May 3, 



Seventy-five per cent, of the class this year were members 

 of the last year's class in Mineralogy, and the great success 

 of this year's work has been a matter of sincere congratula- 

 tion, and justifies the most sanguine anticipations on the part 

 of the projectors of this effort to introduce the study of 

 Natural History into the Common Schools. 



APPENDIX. 



The following propositions to the Massachusetts Centen- 

 nial Commission, Department of Education and Science, 

 were made by the Boston Society of Natural History : 



Sirs: — A committee was appointed by the council of the Boston 

 Society of Natural History, at the meeting of Oct. 23, 1875, to make 

 definite propositions to the commissioners with regard to the part, if 

 any, which was to be taken by that Society in the Centennial Exhi- 

 bition. 



In accordance with the suggestions of Mr. Philbrick, the commit- 

 tee have divided their propositions into four heads. 



The committee also beg leave to state that they are not empowered 

 to urge the acceptance of these propositions, nor would it be proper 

 for them, in any case, to attempt to magnify the importance of the 

 service rendered to the cause of education by the Society. 



They feel that the commissioners themselves are fully informed 

 upon all these points, and are the best judges of the amount of the 

 appropriations which the State can afford to make for such purposes, 

 and therefore most respectfully submit the following propositions 

 without further remark: 



First — That the Society furnish a printed account of its past 

 history and present condition and operations. This would include 

 an explanation of the manner of arrangement of the Museum, and 

 its uses in connection with the educational system of Massachusetts, 

 as well as information with regard to the Lowell Lectures on Natural 

 History, and the Teachers' School of Science supported by Mr. John 

 Cummings. 



This will cost the Society a certain outlay, but is in the direct line 

 of their customary expenditures, and can therefore be done without 

 cost to the commission. A certain amount of space would be essential 



