9 
well-established learned societies of the civilized world, and ex¬ 
changes with them periodical and occasional works of science. 
It prints a record of its transactions and a journal of its proceed¬ 
ings, and possesses an extensive collection of books, many of 
which are found in no other library in this country. It may be 
consulted by students of science and philosophy who are properly 
introduced. It has also a small museum of antiquities. 
The Academy of Natural Sciences employs all its means to 
facilitate scientific investigations by its members and others; 
and contributes to the diffusion of knowledge among the people 
by opening its museum gratuitously two days every week, since 
1828 ; by the admission of properly introduced students to its 
extensive library, and by the publication of a journal and a 
record of its proceedings, which are exchanged with more than 
two hundred kindred institutions in all parts of the world. Its 
weekly meetings, except those especially appointed for business, 
may be attended by any person introduced by a member of the 
institution. In the year 1866,—the first during which a count 
has been kept,—34,500, and, during the year just closed, 51,620 
persons have visited the museum, which in many respects is equal 
to any in the world, and is the most complete in the United 
States. The library now contains 21,579 volumes on or con¬ 
nected with the natural sciences, besides a large number of 
unbound periodicals and pamphlets. 
To place the buildings of these institutions in juxtaposition 
without amalgamating the institutions themselves into a single 
organization, but leaving each as independent in its management 
and maintenance as it is now, is the idea which is sought to be 
realized. The execution of this design, it is believed, would be 
to lay the foundation of an establishment which, in the course 
of a few years, would be able to supply all those resources and 
adjuvants of study for which aspirants to the highest culture 
now resort to Europe. The interests of the Academy as well 
as of the other societies named would be advanced, and the 
common prosperity of Philadelphia and, to some extent, of the 
State would be increased. 
The concentration of the proposed new buildings would add 
in a striking degree to the architectural ornaments of the city: 
