8 
and eminently fitting in view of his interest in the society and the 
substantial benefits he had derived from his association with it. 
Mr. Meigs warmly expressed his sympathy with these views, but 
at once stated that the library would not be given to any society 
except on condition that it would be kept intact. His attention 
having been called to the fact that the books were entirely unclassi¬ 
fied and that their usefulness would be greatly increased if properly 
grouped, he not only conceded this point but expressed his willingness 
that the scientific works should be arranged in connection with the 
appropriate sections of the main library, if the gift were made to the 
Academy, but that before considering farther the propriety of mak¬ 
ing such gift or bequest he must be assured that none of the volumes 
would be parted with by sale or otherwise, but that, apart from the 
conceded arrangement of the scientific works, the rest of the collec¬ 
tion should be kept together permanently as the James Aitken 
Meigs Library. This condition was accepted on behalf of the 
Academy by your Librarian in the presence of Mr. Meigs’ friend, 
Dr. R. K. Hinton, and his housekeeper, Miss Lizzie Rogers. 
A few days later the will was made, leaving to the Academy the 
books, scientific instruments and the sum of $20,000, one-half of 
which is for the exclusive benefit of the library. The other half is 
left without restriction or condition and has not yet been specifically 
appropriated by the Council. Mr. Meigs died May 10th, 1895, and 
the library was shortly after removed to the Academy. It is con¬ 
fidently believed that the legacy depended on the agreement made 
with Mr. Meigs regarding the custodianship of the library. It is 
therefore held to be incumbent on the Academy to act in conformity 
with this understanding, although the wording of the will grants a 
greater degree of liberty. 
The scientific portions of the James Aitken Meigs Library have 
been placed, as far as the present supply of case-room will permit, 
with the appropriate sections of the general library, the volumes 
being appropriately labelled ; while the works on literature, philoso¬ 
phy, history, religion, etc., have been arranged temporarily in the 
Council room. The duplicates will ultimately be placed in the 
main library, when the Academy will, of course, be at liberty to dis¬ 
pose of the works replaced by them. 
The late John H. Redfield, as a farther evidence of his long-con¬ 
tinued interest in the botanical department of the Academy, directed 
