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shape of room which can be ill afforded, and which a wise and 
unhampered management of a museum would reserve for better 
uses later on. This may sound somewhat harsh and ungracious, 
yet as the representative of* the city department through which 
the public money is expended for housing and caring for this 
institution, it is proper for me to bring the facts mentioned to the 
attention of all whom in the fullness of their public spirit they 
may concern. 
With an apology for the intrusion of these remarks, I now have 
the honor, in the name of the city, to transfer this building to 
the keeping of you, sir, the President of the Natural History 
Museum. 
Address by Morris K. Jesup, President, accepting the Buildi?ig on 
behalf of the Trustees : 
Mr. Dana. — It is a most felicitous circumstance, sir, that your 
father was one of the incorporators of the American Museum of 
Natural History, and we are very happy to have his son give us, 
in behalf of the city this afternoon, this beautiful building. On 
behalf of the Trustees the gift is accepted, and it will be proper 
for me to state to this audience in a little detail the relations 
between the city and this Museum. There is a contract duly 
authorized and directed to be made by the Legislature of the State 
of New York between the city and this Museum. It gives to the 
Museum the use of Manhattan Square for the further use in per- 
petuity of the buildings that may be erected thereon, and that 
the buildings when completed are to be properly policed by the 
city and kept in repair. This contract is perpetual. The city 
has no right to rescind it. The Trustees on the other hand agree 
that, in consideration of the contract and lease, they will occupy 
the buildings with their specimens and material for the public use. 
The Trustees have the right to make the appointments, and have 
the entire control of the force employed in these buildings, 
except the police. This was a most wise and proper arrangement, 
for under it there has been no difficulty in getting the wisest and 
best men to serve as Trustees, knowing and feeling that in that 
office they were responsible to themselves and to the people, and 
