2G 
exertions. For these, purposes they have formed an association, and applied 
themselves to collect specimens of Geology and Mineralogy, and other objects of 
natural history, and, for the short period of its existence, the efforts of the Insti¬ 
tution have been eminently successful. They have entered into correspondence 
with other learned Societies, and have been encouraged to proceed by their appro¬ 
bation, and have profited by their generous co-operation. They have invited the 
assistance of their fellow-citizens in the most distant States and Territories, and 
hope, by their aid, to collect documents and facts illustrative of the early history 
of our country, specimens of its Geology and of its Mineral and Vegetable produc¬ 
tions, and, if not to preserve the animals and plants themselves, which are pass¬ 
ing away before the progress of settlement and cultivation, at least to perpetuate 
their forms, and the memory of their existence. They hope to be able to illus¬ 
trate these subjects, and others connected with them, by a series of gratuitous lec¬ 
tures, and entertain a confident expectation that numbers, whose duties compel 
them annually to assemble here, will view with interest collections of the natural 
productions of America, drawn from every State and Territory in the Union, 
and, becoming sensible of their utility, will contribute on their return to swell 
their amount, and to spread throughout the country a taste for literary and scien¬ 
tific pursuits. 
“The Institution for the Promotion of Science and the Useful Arts, will, as 
its name indicates, embrace every branch of knowledge ; and its members, believ¬ 
ing such a combination essential to its success, have divided themselves into eight 
scientific classes, namely: Astronomy, Geography, and Natural Philosophy ; 
Natural History; Geology and Mineralogy; Chemistry; the application of 
Science to the Useful Arts; Agriculture; American History and Antiquities; 
and Literature and the Fine Arts.” 
“At no epoch of history has Astronomy, both theoretical and practical, counted 
among its votaries so many illustrious men, as since the commencement of the 
present century ; at no period has the vault of heaven been explored with so 
much genius, profound knowledge, ability, and physical means, as at this day; 
and never has been commenced a monument to the glory of science and human 
intellect more sublime than that of which astronomy is now laying the foundation. 
Shall we not add one stone to this structure ? Will we expose ourselves to be 
denied our just title of a moral, religious, intelligent, and enlightened people, by 
refusing to inscribe the United States of America among the names of the civilized 
nations of the earth which will be found engraved upon the columns of this mag¬ 
nificent temple ? Are w T e not a Navigating and Commercial people'? Does not 
our flag float on every sea, and visit every accessible region of the world 1 And 
shall we not have our National Observatory, our astronomical archives, and our 
celestial ephemeris 1 Shall we any longer leave our navigators exposed to the dis¬ 
grace of acknowledging that, without the astronomical ephemerides published in 
Europe, they could not with safety navigate distant seas 1 I hope not. I believe 
it to he only necessary to point out to the intelligent people of this country the 
