18 



Annual Address. 



eyes of the civilized world. The crowning work in this 

 succession of efforts to advance knowledge, was the esta- 

 blishment of the Rensselaer Institute. In view of the 

 great difficulty and expense, at that time, of obtaining 

 proper scientific education in reference to agriculture, 

 civil engineering and the arts, and especially with the 

 view of training up competent teachers in those depart- 

 ments, he founded and endowed, at Troy, this school, 

 which has in the past well fulfilled, and is, I believe, still 

 fulfilling the purposes of its foundation. 



It is, perhaps, one of the chief advantages of such soci- 

 eties as our own, that it brings men from widely different 

 spheres of thought and occupation, into communication 

 and cooperation with each other in reference to matters 

 affecting the advancement of science. ~No person, proba- 

 bly, was more constantly consulted by Mr. Van Rensselaer, 

 and had more influence in shaping his plans, than Dr. T. 

 Romeyn Beck, himself one of the most efficient and de- 

 voted members the Institute ever had. His services to 

 this society and to the general interests of learning in this 

 state can hardly be overrated. Our collections, our cata- 

 logues and our transactions bear witness to his untiring 

 labors. I think it may be truthfully said, that for forty 

 years most of the leading measures affecting the interests 

 of science, or letters, or education in this state, either 

 originated with him, or were shaped under his direction, 

 or had in some way the benefit of his counsels. His truth, 

 sincerity and directness of character, his admirable busi- 

 ness habits, his influential social relations, his varied 

 learning, his well known devotion to science, his world- 

 wide reputation as a writer in his own special department 

 of medical jurisprudence, his experience as a teacher, and 

 his acquaintance as the secretary of the board of Regents 

 with the practical workings of the educational system of 

 this state, and his freedom from even a suspicion of any 



