Philadelphia, letter from the mayor, respecting dogs, 24 Philadelphia, three decker at navy yard, described memorial of citizens, do ib meeting in favour of the Poles articles of agreement with Spring Gar- den for use of Schuylkill water sales of real estate 223, and Reading rail-road proposed tion Gov, Mifflin's message on the equip- consecration of Bishop of N. Carolina statistical tables of prisons and crimes in Drawbridge wharf recommended as a memorial of shoe dealers, relating to city expenditures report on dinner to Counsellor Sampson American Philosophical Society, letter memorial of citizens on lighting city memorial against making drawbridge claim for old balance by R. E. Griffith, loan authorized for $35,000 sketch of some of the western rivers petition of victuallers respecting a fire bell J. M. Truman curb stones proposal to dig out Willow st. first complete trip between Wilkes- snow storm, early account of the weather for November library of foreign literature and science established, report and constitution military meeting in, on subject of a con- trial between butchers and shinners, City vs. Roseman Loganian library, History of 3 of crimes of which prisoners in jail were Chronological list of officers' Vaux, Roberts, resigns as president of controllers of steam boat explosions in United States a statement of the criminal business of the showing the number of commitments in the in each month of 1830, 4 preceding years showing the diseases and deaths of each the same of Arch street prison of the exportation of wheat from Canada 184 189 249 exportation and consumption of, in Canada, White, Josiah, appointed Engineer of Penna. Canal 128 cost of transporting a ton of coal severe weather at 48 330 400 250 252 the first Executive magistrate who has cross- obituary of Esther Skinner, massacre at 25 Y HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. VIII.-NO. 1. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. PHILADELPHIA, JULY 2, 1831. FIRST ANNUAL REPORT Of the Bucks County Academy of Natural Science. The Committee appointed to make and publish the first Annual Report of the commencement, progress and present situation of the Academy, in obedience to a resolution adopted, and in conformity with a custom obtaining in similar institutions, submit the following sketch NO. 183. er spirit of the measure, we trust will be productive of the most beneficial results. Some of our members are now actively prosecutng thieir researches in accord ance with this division of labor, and it is confidently be lieved that others will be influenced by their example, and by praise worthy ambition to contribute to the common stock of useful information, by judicous observation and the careful treasuring, of natural objects. Many In January, 1829, public attention was first called to specimens, particularly of minerals hsve already been the formation of a society for promoting the study of na- obtained, and a taste for the study of the riches of the ture in this county by an Editorial paragraph in the In- animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms, has been widetelligencer. In February following, a number of public ly diffused. Owing to the want of a place specifically spirited gentlemen from different parts of the county, appropriated for the purposes of a Cabinet or Museum, met at Doylestown, and resolved that it was expedient we have not been able to embrace in our collection, to form such a society, and in the same month the draft subjects of the animal and vegetable empires. It is hoped of a constitution was submitted and adopted. On the that the liberality of our citizens and the increasing im 29th of April, following, officers pro tempore were ap-portance of collections of objects in the study of nature, pointed, and in accordance with the adopted draft of will ere long authorize the appropriation of a room in the constitution, the first stated meeting of the Aca- some of our public buildings to supply this deficiency demy was held on the 25th of May, 1829; at which theor that the increasing public spirit of the citizens of constitution was finally ratified and signed by twenty Doylestown, will effect the same purpose in some other five members. The spirit which prompted a com- mode. mencement so promising, stimulated to active exertions Having thus traced the general view of our labors for the purpose of surmounting the many difficulties from the commencement to the present time-having which immediately presented themselves on the untried glanced at the greatest difficulty we have yet to provide field we were about entering. Very few of the mem- for, and intimated the possible means by which that probers had made themselves acquainted with even the ru- vision may be made, we turn to the more particular dediments of classification in any branch of natural history.tails of the present situation of the Academy, which at An offer therefore, made by Jonathan C. Jones, one of present occupies in common with the Doylestown Lithe youngest, but most zealous admirers of nature, be-brary, a room in the Union Academy, which is also of. Two convenient longing to the Academy, to deliver an introductory pub- ten used for various other purposes. lic address on the study of Botany, was gladly accepted cases are nearly filled with specimens, principally as which was carried into execution on the 6th of June, above noticed of minerals. The Curators have just and thus a new impulse given to the zeal of those who finished a scientific arrangement of the most valuable of were disposed to foster "the knowledge of things." these specimens, and the study of mineralogy may now We cannot refrain from here mentioning the immense be methodically pursued with the advantage of having loss sustained by the Academy in particular, and by the the distinctive properties of minerals elucidated by refriends of science generally, in the premature decease ference to the Cabinet. Several valuable works have of this enterprising and amiable young man. We know been procured; and as the room is open every Saturday we shall again awaken the unavailing sigh of sorrow, afternoon, for the use of the Library, we would suggest with those who had the pleasure of his personal ac- the propriety of our members taking that opportunity quaintance, and re-inflict the pang of disappointed hope for becoming acquainted with the characteristic differon his bereaved relatives and friends-but we know also ence of mineral substances. It is in contemplation. also, that the memory of their sorrows brings also with it the to construct a Geological column as fast as the materials consolatory recollection of inestimable worth and never can be obtained, and many of them are already in the dying virtue. Before the next annual meeting, the Cabinet, which will enable the student to embrace at Academy were called also to lament their loss by the one view the whole theory of this important study. Two death of John Moore, Esq. their first President. Thus of our members, are also prosecuting the study of Entodeprived almost at the outset of two of their most valu-mology, particularly with reference to those insects able and efficient members, it began to be feared that our strength would fail-but fortunately the example of Jones had pointed to the true path of successful progress, and at the annual meeting in May, 1830, a series of introductory addresses on several departments of Natural History, was determined on. The gentlemen, to whom this task was assigned, labored diligently to acquaint themselves in a way to be useful-and by these means, a mass of information was obtained and spread abroad, which cannot fail of being highly useful in all our future operations; and which tended immediately to keep alive the spirit of improvement that had actuated us at the first.A division of the members into classes corresponding with the objects of inquiry soon followed, which when duly appreciated and acted on in the prop. VOL. VIII. 1 which are injurious, and those which may be made useful to husbandry and domestic economy. One member has undertaken to collect information relative to the natural history of the most valuable fishes that frequent the waters of the county, among which the shad and herring will receive, as they deserve, a large of attention. Several gentlemen commenced in the last summer, the collection and preservation of plants for the purpose of forming a herbarium-they will probably during the present season be able to show a classified callection of plants, embracing all the classes and orders of a complete system of Botany, and also to describe the habitudes and varieties of the most valuable natives of the county. Should these reasonable anticipations be realized and nothing but a reprehensible remissness on |