AIANY INSTITUTE First Annual Report, AS 36 A32 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRESENTED JULY 1, 1825. o the Institute. STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAEB, President. SIMEON DE WITT, President of the 1st Department, \ ELISHA JENKINS, Do. of the 2d, > JOHN CHESTER, Do. of the 3d, WILLIAM MAYELL, Treasurer. FETER GANSEVOORT, \ MATTHEW H. WEBSTER, > Corresponding Secretaries. FREDERICK MATTHEWS,? HVN'RVW CUVYDFR. ^ JOSEPH P. MOTT, > Recording Secretaries. RICHARD V. DEWITT, 5 HENRY W. SNYDER, Librarian. LEWIS C. BECK, MATTHEW H. WEBSTER, RICHARD V. DE WITT, CuraAon. WILLIAM COOPER, JOSEPH HENR? TO TUB PUBLIC. THE ALBANY INSTITUTE was organized in May, 1824. Its object is the promotion of Science and Learning, and it is divided into three Departments. 1st. The Department of Mathematical and Physical Science and the Arts. This consists of the former Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts. 2d. The Department of Natural History, comprising the Albany Lyceum of Natural History. These two Societies formed a. union at tlie ttmo mentioned above, contemplating and originating also, a 3d De- partment, viz. that of History and general Litera- ture. The last has just been organized, and arrange- ments are making for its going into full operation dur- ing the ensuing winter. The Institute holds its regular meetings every fort- night during the first four months of the year. Its proceedings for 1824-5, will be seen in the following pages. On the 1st of July, 1825, the Rev. Dr. CHESTER, one of the Vice-Presidents, delivered the Annual Address before the Institute. It is matter of regret to the members, that its publication is not permit- ted, as it contains an ample and able account of the objects of the Society. The subject of the Address was the intimate union that exists between the pro- motion of Religion, and of Science and Learning, and the duty of all as Christians and Patriots, to promote these important objects. A debt of gratitude is just- ly due to the orator for his kindness in coming for- ward as the advocate and friend of the Institute. The Committee do not conceive it necessary to en- large on the utility of such a Society to the Literary and Scientific character of the City. In the ensuing Report it will be seen, that the members have given a pledge, if not of their ability, at least of their wil lingufcss. to produce the desired effect. UCSB LIBRAR1 REPORT. THE Committee appointed to prepare a detailed Report of the proceedings of the Albany Institute since its formation in May, 1824 to examine the Museum and I abrary, and to report the additions made thereto and to enquire into the Funds and Expenditures of the respective Departments and the Institute, REPORT, That in compliance with the duty assigned to them, they proo.P.ftde 69 are Donations to the Institute, cimens, of which $ 20 to the 2d Dep. 45 Geological Speci- > 19 to the Institute, mens. $ 2 ^ * tne 2c * ^ e P- 103 Specimens of Or- ? 102 to the Institute, ganic Remains. $ 1 to the 2d Dep. 338 Zoological Speci- ? 26r to the Institute, mens. $ 71 to the 2d Dep. Several Collections of Plants. IT Specimens, Arts. ? Tn; nly ^ tribute (JllC to such as favour the cause of Science and Literature. As to the LIBRARY. From the Catalogue made and certified at the formation of the Institute, it appears that the Library consisted of 329 volumes, of which 277 are the property of the 1st Department. 52 (including pamphlets) of the 2d Department. The Library now consists of 345 volumes, being an ad- dition of 16 volumes, of which 5 belong to the Institute. 8 to the 1st Department. 3 to the 2d Department. Also 6 pamphlets, of which 3 were presented to the Institute, 2 to the 1st Department, and one to the 2d. The Periodical Works taken by the different Depart- ments arc, The Annals of Philosophy, The Repertory ot" Arts, and Silli man's Journal. The Academy of Natural Sciences, at Philadelphia, and the New- York Lyceum of Natural History forward their rpspcrtive publications to the Institute. The Committee have now the pleasure of mentioning the names of donors to the Institute, or its Departments since May last. They are the following Societies arid individu- als -The American Philosophical Society. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. The New- York Lyceum of Natural History. The Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, President of the Institute. His Excellency, Governor Clin- ton, Simeon De Witt, John R. Bleecker, benezer Bald- win, William Basset of Syracuse, Caleb N. Bement, Lewis C. Beck, Barent S. Boyd, Stephen V. R. Bleecker, T. Ro- meyn Beck, Lt. Birdsall, U. S. Army, William Cooper. dames E. Dekay of New- York, Richard V. l)e Witt, Vol- kert P. Douvv, James Eights, John Finch of Philadelphia, Peter Gansevoort, Edmund C. Genet, Joseph Henry, Peter S. Henry, James Hadley of Fair-field, John James, Samuel M. Lock wood,of Ohio, Henry J. Linn, William Mayell, John Meads, Thomas Mather, Frederick Matthews, Duncan Mc- Kerrher, Benjamin Knower, P. Kelly, James M'Auley, of flerkimer, Orlando Meads, James M'Naughton, Joseph P. Mott, Elisha Putnam, John S. Phillips, of Philadelphia, Henry W. Snyder, Hezekiah Skinner, Peter S. Townsend, of New-Providence, Stephen. Van Rensselaer, Jun. Solomon Van Rensselaer. Charles R. Webster, Peter Wendell, Hor- ace Webster, of West- Point, Elkanah Watson, Matthew H. "Webster, Ashbel S. Webster, Richard Webster, Samuel Webster. The following communications have been read before the Institute. 1. On Trilobites, with an account of the Specimens belong- ing to that class, now in the Museum of the Institute, by T. Eomeyn Beck. 2. On the process of Hat Making, by Wm. Mayell 5. Notices of the Testudo Ferox, by the Hon. De Witt Clinton and James E. Dekay, M. D. of New- York, illus- trative of a living Specimen, in the possession of the Institute, from Cayuga Lake, presented by Richard V. De Witt. 4. A notice of the Nitrate of Soda, found in South Ameri- ca, (with a specimen,) by T. R. Beck. 5. Extract from a report on the diseases of Elm Trees in St. James Park, Londou, by Wm. Macleay. Selected. 6. On the Chemical and Mechanical effects of Steam, illus- trated with experiments on the model of a Steam En- gine, loaned to the Institute, by George Birkbeck, of New-York, by Joseph Henry. 7. On the History of Steam Engines, illustrated by draw- ings of varinim inventions, by 7?iV7i/iv/ V Tig Witt 8. On the Mode of manufacturing Paper, by Matthew H. Webster. 9. On Lead and Lead Mines, including a minute account of the Lead Mines in the western part of the United States, read at four different meetings, by Lewis C. Beck. 10. On the manner of preventing the evaporation of Spirits from preparations, by John Shaw. Selected. 11. A Translation of the 2d Chapter of Brogniart on Trilo- bites, by Matthew H, Webster. [ 1 2. .Description of the Unio Crassus, variety Giganteus - from the Illinois River, by Matthew H. Webster. 13. Mr. Waterton's method of preserving Specimens in Na- tural History. Selected. 14. On the nature and properties of Potassium, with experi- ments, by T. Romeyn Beck. 15. A description of the Hystrix Oorsata, or North Ameri- can Porcupine, with observations on its habits, illustra- tive of a Specimen in the Museum, by M. H. Webster. 16. A Topographical account, with an Analysis, of the bitu- minous Coal lately found at Tioga, (Pennsylvania,) by T. Romeyn Beck. IT. On the Functions of the Moon, as deduced from the tutal Hiclipse of the Sun, , fUo. ietl of Juno, 1806, with a Drawing, by Simeon De Witt. 18. On Manganese and its application in the Arts, by Dun- can McKercher. 19. On the production of Cold, by the rarefaction of Air, with experiments, by Joseph Henry. 20. An historical account of the Literary Institutions in the United States, by Frederick Matthews. 1. Catalogue of Plants growing in the vicinity of Hudson. (N. Y.) by Cyrus M. Stebbms. . On the application of Soap Alumina, to the manufacture of a water proof Blacking, by Simeon De Witt. 25. On the application of Steam to the jErial Navigation of Balloons, by Edmund C. Genet. 24. On the variation of the Magnetic Needle, with tables of its variation at Boston, Falmouth and Penobscot, from 1672 to 1800, drawn up by Professor Winthrop, of Har- vard University, communicated with remarks on the same, by Simeon De Witt. ~25. An account of the Salt Springs at Onondaga, with an analysis of the Salt made there by various processes, and also of the Residua, by JLetvis C Heck. 26. An armies or Fujtui Sulphate of Barytes, found at Little Falls, N. Y. by Joseph Henry. 27. On the purification of Alcohol, with experiments, by Lewis C. Beck. 28. An account of Professor Dobereiner's experiment of the Ignition of Platina Sponge, by a jet of Hydrogen, with the experiment, by Joseph Henry. Xos. 2, 3, 4, 10,11,12,15, 15,16, 18, 21, 2, 3, 4, are in the hands of the Secretariesthe remainder in the possession of the persons who communicated them. From the statement now presented, an opinion may be drawn, whether the hopes or the fears cutei'Uittcd a commencement of the Institute have been realized. Tin Committee are sanguine in the belief of its increasing utili- ty, and they trust that the efforts made during the present year, under circumstances of swne embarrassment, may^lead td renewed and increasing exertion. It deserves mention and notice, that the Library has not increased proportion- ably with the Museum. The reasons of this have been suf- ficiently discussed, and indeed are so obvious, that the Com- mittee will not enlarge on them. Whether another year shall witness our increasing pros- perity, must depend on the industry of our members and the patronage of our fellow citizens. Could the latter be indu- ced more generally to foster and aid this institution, a Mu- seum and a Library misbt in few years 03 Tor***!, would be alike honourable to the Society and the pity. The number of actual Members of the Institute is small- being about 20 in the First Department, and 38 in the Sec- ond Department. The Third Department is at present or- ganized under circumstances of considerable promise, but no calculation ran of course be made as to the number of its Members. And it will readily be observed, that the annual pay nents derived from less than sixty individuals, are far from furnishing the necessary sums required in a Society like ours. In the Second Department, the donations have come in so rapidly, that a debt has been incurve cases, while in the First Department several unsettn mands also remain. The gross amount however of t IB not large and could be 'liquidated in a very short were a more general desire entertained for joining the i stitution. The Committee conclude their report, by expressing^ sanguine anticipations of the efforts of the Third or Ih cal and Literary Department. The records of thi connected w4 city, the numerous historical incidents connected progress and growth, and the general subjects of im. embraced within the scope of the Society, all present a,| of interest equal to thimft ni'any other in our State. Donations for m-> Institute, received ai Jin elegant Sioux Pipe, A Canadian Copper Coin, Cloth made from the Bark of a Tree in the Sandwich - ' Islands, and worn by the natives, * * V .* Map of the State ofXew- York, > Oj;de A Map of the City of Albany, Sundry Indian Ornaments used by tht Pottawattanus, R D Indian Tomahawk, .1 Map / /At City ofMv York, 1767, A Specimen / Cittuda. Jtltovy, T. ROMEYN BECK, V M. HENRY WEBSTEB, 1 JAMES EIGHTS, V JOSEPH HENRY, WILLIAM COOPER. s'.e; DC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY A 001 076948 7 THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. Series 9482