Page:A Short History of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (1909).djvu/47

Rh adorns the pavement of the City Hall. It is to be hoped that it will, in the near future, be moved to Logan Square, in immediate proximity to the institution which he loved so well and served so loyally, and within the walls of which he accomplished much the greater part of his work.

Charles E. Smith succeeded Aubrey H. Smith as a member of the Council. He was immediately appointed on the Publication Committee. In this position he rendered most important service as a judicious adviser and an extraordinarily accurate proofreader, until his death, April 15, 1900, in his eightieth year. His interest in the Academy was shown by the bequest of his botanical collections, books, maps and letters, and one-sixth part of the sum realized from the sale of his real and personal property. The latter amounted to about $75,000. Philip P. Calvert was placed on the Publication Committee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Smith.

The Rev. Dr. McCook having resigned his position as one of the Vice-Presidents, a minute of appreciation of the high value of his services to science was placed on the records. He was succeeded by Arthur Erwin Brown, Sc. D.

Out of respect to the memory of Dr. Leidy, the office of President was allowed to remain vacant until the annual election in December, 1891, when General Isaac Jones Wistar was elected his successor. In the meantime the By-Laws had been amended so as to provide that no member should be eligible to the office of President for more than four consecutive terms.

General Wistar was a prudent adviser and conducted the affairs of the society with dignity and efficiency for the next four years. In 1892, he contributed to the Proceedings an able paper on the quantity, rate of consumption and probable duration of North American coal and the consequence to air breathing animals of its entire consumption. He died September 18, 1905.

The new lecture hall was transferred by the Board of Trustees of the Building Fund in February, 1892, the opening address being delivered on the 22d of that month by the Rev. Dr. McCook.

An expedition for the exploration of West Greenland under the command of Lieut. R. E. Peary had been fitted out by the Academy