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116

CABINET OF NATURAL SCIENCE.

shall be open for inspection at any meeting of the society, or of the Board of Managers; and at the expiration of his office, he shall deliver over to his successor, all moneys and other property in his possession, belonging to the society.

ART. 5. It shall be the duty of the Board of Managers, to transact the business of the society during-its recess, and to purchase such books as the society may, from time to time, direct. When the society may deem it expedient, they shall have power to raise money by subscription or otherwise, to purchase ground, and erect thereon a suitable building or buildings for the accommodation and education of youth, and a hall for the use of the society. They shall have power to make, alter, or abolish all by-laws and regulations necessary for their government; and to do whatever else may be conducive to the best interests of the society.

ART. 6. The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, shall be members of the Board of Managers, any five of whom shall constitute a quorum to do business.

(FEBRUARY

gentleman, in his lectures, imparted to the subjects of geology and mineralogy, awakened in the minds of many a desire to become acquainted with those and other branches of natural science, and the facilities which the institution of a Cabinet would afford, in the acquisition of natural knowledge, were too apparent to be overlooked.

The first public meeting to take into consideration the utility of forming a society for the promotion of natural science, and for the establishment of a collection of specimens, in the animal, vegetable and mineral departments of nature, was held at the house of Mr. Levi Roberts, in Norristown, on the 7th day of August, 1830. At this meeting a committee was appointed, and instructed to invite, through the medium of the public papers, the attention of the citizens of this county, to the objects contemplated by the meeting In discharge of their duty, the committee prepared and pub. lished an able address on the subject they were instructed to present to the public, which had the effect of securing the co-operation of many intelligent individuals in accomplishing the object proposed-the formation of ART. 7. Any person subscribing his name to this Con- a society for the cultivation of natural knowledge. In stitution, and paying into the hands of the Treasurer their address which is dated August 20, 1830, the comthe sum of two dollars, shall be a member of this so-mittee requested the attendance of those disposed to ciety, which sum the Society may alter, from time to become members of such a society, at a meeting desigtime, as they may see fit. nated to be held at the house of Levi Roberts on the 4th ART. 8. The Annual Meeting of the society shall be on day of September next, subsequent to the date of the the third Monday in each year, and its Monthly Meet- address. At that time and place a meeting was according, on the second Monday in each month. ingly held, and a committee of five were appointed to ART. 9. No alteration shall be made in this Constitution prepare articles of Association and Bye Laws for the without the concurrence of two thirds of its mem- consideration of the next meeting, which, pursuant to a bers. resolution, was to be held at the same place on the 16th of the same month, September, 1830. When the time of meeting arrived, the committee to whom the duty was entrusted, submitted articles of Association, which, after some slight alterations, were unanimously approved and adopted. With regard to the Bye-Laws, the committee were continued, to make their Report at a future meeting and they were subsequently discharged from the further consideration of the matter, until the charter of incorporation, which had been applied for, could be obtained from the proper authorities. Pursuant to the 10th article of association reported by the committee, and in accordance with a resolution passed by the meeting, the following officers were chosen, until the next annual election which is to be held this day. PresidentJonathan Roberts. Vice Presidents-George W. Holstein, Joseph Foulke. Corresponding SecretaryThomas M. Jolly. Recording Secretary-Alan W. Corson. Librarian-Daniel H. Mulvany. Curators— John Freedley, Philip Kendall and Joseph Thomas. Treasurer-John S. McFarland. Auditors-Charles. Jones, George W. Thomas and Hiram Corson.

The following persons were elected Officers of the Society for the ensuing year.

JOHN B. VASHON, President.

JOB B. THOMPSON, Vice-President.
LEWIS WOODSON, Secretary.
ABRAHAM D. LEWIS, Treasurer.

RICHARD BRYANS,

WM. J. GREENLY,

SAMUEL BRUCE,

MOSES HOWARD,
SAM'L. CLINGHAM,

Board

of Managers.

CABINET OF NATURAL SCIENCE.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT.
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE SOCIETY.

At a stated meeting of the Cabinet, held on the 31st day of December, 1831, Daniel H. Mulvany, from the committee appointed for the purpose, submitted the following Report, which was approved, and ordered to be published:

At the last stated meeting a Committee was appointed to prepare a Report on the present state of the Cabinet of Natural Science of Montgomery county. In discharging this duty, the committee will premise that, as this is the first Annual Report ever made on the subject, the occasion is deemed appropriate to take a brief view of the formation of the Cabinet, its progress up to the present period, and the purposes for which it was insti

tuted.

The society being thus organized, such committees were appointed at subsequent meetings, with specific duties assigned them, as were judged expedient to carry into effect the objects of the association. The treasurer, to whom the duty of procuring the charter of incorporation was entrusted, reported at the stated meeting in April, 1331, that the articles prepared for the purpose had been signed by the Attorney General, the Judges of the Supreme Court and the Governor, and the charter was therefore perfected. A committee was then appointed to prepare Bye-Laws for the regulation of the society. These were submitted at a stated meeting in Perhaps the existence of similar institutions in some July, 1831 and adopted. A committee was also appointof our neighbouring counties, and a conviction of their ed to ascertain and mark the site of the Observatory, utility in a public and individual point of view, first sug- erected and used by the celebrated David Rittenhouse, gested to some of our citizens the idea of establishing and which, since the death of that philosopher, had a Cabinet of Natural Science in Montgomery county. been suffered to fall into a state of delapidation. But it was not until a series of lectures had been de- committee reported at a stated meeting in June last, livered in this borough by Peter A. Browne, Esq. of that through the politeness of the venerable Maj.Joseph Philadelphia, whose merits as a geologist are extensive- Armstrong, they were shown the remains of a stone ly known and appreciated, that any effectual measures building which, according to the account of Maj. Armwere taken for the formation of a Society for the culti-strong, whose veracity is to be relied on, was the same vation of natural science. The interest which this used by Mr. Rittenhouse as an Observatory. It is situ

This

ated in the township of Norriton, about two and a half in quality to none in the state, extensive beds of excelmiles from this borough.

lent marble, and iron ore, and mines of copper, lead and zinc. There is reason to believe that even these have

not been fully developed, and that there are large quantities of the same kind of minerals yet undiscovered. Perhaps it is not too much to expect that our Cabinet may yet be the means of conveying an accurate knowledge of the true extent of our resources, in respect to those minerals, and developing other treasures which now remain imbedded in the earth, their nature, properties, and the uses to which they might be applied, being alike unknown.

Since the organization of the society considerable progress has been made, in the collection of appropriate specimens for the different departments of the Cabinet. The mineralogical department is gradually receiving an accession to the number of its specimens, which at the present time is about 300. For a considerable portion of these-some of which are European-the society is indebted to the kindness and liberality of Peter A. Browne, Esq. whose exertions in behalf of the Cabinet have contributed much to elevate the character of the institution. A number of specimens have also been In several of the branches of natural science-Ornipresented by Mr. Joseph Thomas, now Cashier of the thology, Entomology, &c.-it must be confessed, we Pottsville Bank, who was formerly one of the Curators, have as yet accomplished little or nothing; but there is and whose active and efficient co-operation aided much reason to indulge the hope that during the ensuing year the foundation of the present society. Many other indi- these important subjects will receive a due share of the viduals also, not connected with the society, have evinc-attention of the members. The prospect bfore us is ed their good will, and an interest in its behalf, by dona- certainly encouraging—and if, in speaking of our operations of specimens and among these the munificence tions, we have to lament that some of the most imporof Charles A. Poulson, Esq. is gratefully acknowledged. tant branches of natural science have been partially neThis gentleman has designed for the Cabinet a splendid glected, yet if we contemplate for a moment the difficollection of insects, from China, which are understood cnlties we have already encountered and overcome, and to be now at West Chester; and as soon as measures can the ennobling purposes for which our Cabinet has been be taken to have them forwarded to this place, they instituted, we will find, in these considerations, the highwill form a most valuable acquisition to our museum. est incentive to hope that our efforts, in cultivating and In the Botanical department, we have specimens of promoting a knowledge of the natural sciences, will be nearly five hundred plants, which are either indigenous productive of the most beneficial results. Our Society or naturalized in Montgomery county. For the herba- has been in existence a year, and it was not, in the narium comprising these plants the society is indebted to ture of things, to be expected, that any considerable the kindness of Miss Hannah Corson, whose donation progress should have been made in the cultivation of all in this respect is the more valuable from the circum- the diversified branches of natural science. It is suffistance that no addition has been made to the collection cient cause for pleasing reflection, and at the same of plants made and presented by her to the Cabinet. time a high inducement to future and more vigorous The fact however, that nothing has been added to the exertion, that the extensive field on which we have result of her labours, it is hoped will have the effect of entered has been already partially explored, and that, directing the attention of the members to the cultiva- with regard to our end and aim, every reasonable antion of this science, and of impressing on their minds ticipation has been realized. the utility of procuring specimens in botany. If the The objects for which the Cabinet has been estabmembers would form themselves into several parties, lished are such as cannot fail to recommend themselves each party, exploring a particular section, a general to the best feelings of every intelligent individual in herbarium might be collected of all the plants of Mont- the community. To encourage and promote a love of gomery county. Nor would this be the only result of natural knowledge in the minds of the rising generasuch an undertaking. In a general botanical excur- tion-to afford to the more experienced votaries of natsion throughout the county, its mineral treasures might ural science, facilities in the prosecution of their studies be explored, and specimens procured, without encroach- which could not otherwise be so readily obtained-to ing much on the time devoted to the purpose, or adding collect into one common repository, and be enabled to much to the labour, of collecting specimens for the her- exhibit at a view all the rare and curious specimens, in barium. The duplicates too, which might be obtained animated nature, which can be procured within the in this way, would enable us to furnish specimens to oth- limits of our country--to form a Museum of shells, foer Cabinets and to scientific individuals, in return for reign and antiquated coins, Indian and other relics, &c. their favours-and by thus exchanging the natural pro-and in which can be deposited all the various specimens ductions of our own section of the county, for those and distinct species of Montgomery county minerals, as collected in neighbouring and distant parts, the inte- well as the kindred productions of neighbouring states rests of our institution would be materially promoted. and distant countries-to possess a Herbarium of all The Library at present contains about 20 volumes, the plants, native and naturalized, within our country, among which are Godman's Natural History, Say's En- so that at a future day some American Botanist may be tomology, one volume of Audubon's Ornithological Bio-assisted to accomplish in that science, what Wilson and graphy, &c. Audubon have in Ornithology-to form an extensive Of the minerals which have been collected by the Library, by a collection of books and works on subjects members, or presented by others, but few compara- connected with natural science, for the purpose of illustively have been obtained within the borders of our own trating and promoting a knowledge of its various branchCounty. When it is recollected, that one of the pri-es-these are the considerations which have called into mary objects of our association is, to procure materials existence, and which must sustain, the present Cabifor a complete history of the natural productions of this net. county to be enabled to display at a glance, to those who shall do us the favour to visit our Cabinet, the animals, insects, fishes and birds which inhabit within its limits, and particularly those which are least familiar to the common eye-the vegetable plants which are the spontaneous growth of our soil, and the mineral treasures lying on its surface, or imbedded beneath it-it is to be regretted that specimens of these various articles have not been more generally procured. With regard to mineral wealth, our own is a highly favoured county. We have inexhaustible quarries of limestone, inferior

The committee cannot close this communication without requesting the attention of our agriculturists and our citizens generally to the objects of our association. To the farmer, a knowledge of the minerals he meets with in the daily routine of his business, their character and properties of the insects which infects and destroy the produce of his farm, and of the plants and weeds which are valuable or pernicious, in his fields and gardens, cannot be unimportant. For the purpose therefore of obviating any deficiency of knowledge, in these respects we would respectfully suggest to our farmers

and others, that, should they do us the favour to furnish specimens of animals or insects, or of minerals and plants, with whose names and properties they were unacquainted; the society would cheerfully impart to them all the information which the members collectively would be enabled to give. We would also suggest that native productions, either in the animal, vegetable or mineral kingdom, which are even familiar to our citizens, and which may be regarded by them as of small importance, will always be acceptable to the Society. If the example of those individuals who have forwarded specimens for the Cabinet, were more generally imitated, the effect would doubtless be, to confer a reciprocal benefit to the community and to the members— and these latter would be encouraged in the study of natural science, by a consciousness that their efforts were appreciated by the public, and that the knowledge which they themselves had acquired could be communicated with profit to others.

"We had ar

which contains the following passages:
rayed against us the influence of the President of the
Bank of the State of South Carolina, emphatically your
Bank, who was among the most zealous in his efforts
against us, and among the most industrious in his cry of
civil war, blood, and revolution. The President of the
Bank of the U. States was not less active, and the head
which presides over this great Federal Institution was
seen superintending, with an anxious scrutiny, the polls
at the election." And again. "But if Charleston be
fated to be governed by northern traders, officers of
the Federal Judiciary, custom officers, and officers of
the United States Bank, we know," &c. And further,
"All the power of the Custom House, and of the Bank
of the United States, all the power of the Federal Judi-
ciary, and even to a certain extent, of the Bank of our
own state, may be arrayed against us.”

I am

However unwilling to interpret very literally, expressions provoked by the ardour of political controOur society is at present composed of thirty members, versy, there is yet in these extracts a direct assertion and an addition to the number is to be desired, as it would of facts, which unless the highly respectable gentlemen enhance the value and extend the operations of the in- who make it are entirely misinformed, is calculated to stitution. Any member has a right to propose any per- excite extreme regret. In the administration of the son who shall desire it, as a candidate for admission, at Bank of the United States, no principal is more fundaany of the stated meetings which are held on the last mental than its total abstinence from politics. Its uniSaturday of each month in the year, and at the next form object has been to devote itself exclusively to its subsequent meeting, such candidate, may be elected a own concerns, leaving public affairs to the public counmember. The only expense necessary to be incurred, cils: to belong to the country, not to any section of it; is the institution fee of five dollars, and an annual pay- to be true to every administration of the government, ment of two dollars. On the rising generation the in- yet subservient to none; and while composed of fellow stitution we have established, must rely in a great mea- citizens of all parties, to be wholly unconnected with sure for support and advancement. The earlier period any. You know that during the many years in which I of life, before the cares and pursuits of the world ab- have enjoyed the pleasure of your correspondence, I sorb the attention, is the time for improvement; and at have never made a single inquiry into the political opithat interesting period, the energies of the youthful nions of any individual attached to the Branch. mind could not perhaps be better employed than in the at this moment equally ignorant and indifferent, and acquisition of natural knowledge. The utility of such my only anxiety is, that they should so exercise their knowledge will not be denied; and if we may credit own rights as not to violate those of the institution. Unthe concurrent testimony of all who have cultivated na-doubtedly, the officers of the Bank are all citizens, retural science with any degree of success, it is one of the taining all their privileges of free thought and free acmost delightful studies in which the human mind can be tion, nor would the directors presume to control the engaged. To young men, then, who are just beginning political opinions of the humblest individual in their to search into the "fine mysteries of knowledge," who are service. Yet it is not an unreasonable expectation that forming habits of mind, on which must depend, in a they who voluntarily engage in the employment of the great measure, their happiness as individuals, their use- institution, should conform to its essential policy, and fulness as citizens, and their success in life, and on whom cautiously abstain from any conduct which may bring will devolve in future the responsibility of sustaining upon it undeserved odium. Now there is nothing more and exalting the intellectual character of their country, adapted to offend and estrange the community than an an early love for the study of nature is of the last im-active and ostensible participation in popular elections, portance. The boundaries of knowledge are only en- by the officers of the Bank. Whether they are in the larged in proportion as the attention is excited; and right or in the wrong; whether the occasion be great or the mind that in youth, can contemplate with delight small, whether they succeed or fall, are matters of not the works of creation, and have a desire to become ac- the slightest consequence. All parties think themquainted with the various objects of nature, is fitted to selves always right; to all parties all contests seem imachieve the loftiest triumphs of genius and learning, portant; and all, if they do not succeed, are sure they and to enjoy at the same time, the highest degree of ought to succeed; so that whether victorious or defeatintellectual pleasure of which the human mind is suscep-ed, each party retains a feeling against its prominent tible.

BANK OF THE UNITED STATES.

The following letter was written some time since, and was never designed for publication. It accidently came into the hands of a New York editor, who observing the singular manner in which it disproves a charge made against the United States Bank, thought it proper to lay it before the public. It cannot but serve as an entire vindication of the Bank from at least one of the absurd charges that have been preferred against it.

(PRIVATE.)

adversaries, which it inevitably transfers to the institutions identified with them.

The Board of Directors are therefore extremely unwilling that the officers of the Bank should be zealous or conspicuous at elections, and the reproach thus publicly vouched is of a character to excite great sensibility. That feeling I trust you will be able to remove or allay, so as to relieve the institution from the imputation of political interference, and I therefore take the earliest opportunity of inviting you to furnish me with the means of placing the subject before the Board in a satisfactory light. This will be very acceptable to them, and particularly gratifying to

Yours, with great respect,

N. BIDDLE,

Bank of the United States, Sept. 27, 1830. Dear Sir, I have recently received a pamphlet entitled, "Proceedings and the Resolutions and Addresses Jos. JoHNSON, Esq. Prest. Off. Dis. & Dep. adopted by the State Rights' party in Charleston,"

Charleston, S. C.

President.

A message, accompanied with documents, being re- of the citizens of New Jersey; concerned in the river ceived from the Governor, was read as follows:

Re solved further, that if it should appear to the Governor, from the information he may obtain under the preceding resolution, that the said wing or other dam, has been built at or near the place aforesaid, and that it SIR:-I have the honor of forwarding to your Excel- the free navigation of the said river Delaware, that then, now does or probably will hereafter materially obstruct lency an authenticated copy of certain resolutions adopt-and in that case, he do, without delay, call the attened by the legislature of this state, at their last session in December last, relative to a wing dam, recently erected in the Delaware river, on the Pennsylvania side thereof near New Hope.