The American Philosophical Society was formed, in the year 1769, by the union of two other literary societies that had previously subsisted in Philadelphia.
The society meet every week, for the transaction of the affairs of the institution, the reception of communications from members, the enjoyment of literary conversation, and the perusal of the foreign journals. The library is valua ble, extensive, and annually increasing. The society have likewise an extensive collection of minerals, scientifically arranged. Seven volumes of transactions have been pub lished, at different times, embracing some very excellent papers on various subjects.
?cademy of .Aratural Sciences.—This institution, now one of the most flourishing and respectable of the kind in the United States, was incorporated in 1815. The society pos sesses an extensive and valuable collection of specimens in mineralogy, entomology, Sec., and the largest library of works on natural history in America ; which, together with miscellaneous books, amount to near four thousand volumes. The meetings are held every week, at which papers and lectures are read upon the various subjects con nected with natural science. Several volumes of transac tions, containing much very valuable and instructive mat ter tending to develop the natural history of our country, have been published by the society, and have been receiv ed with much satisfaction and attention by the learned na turalists of Europe.
Philadelphia Museum.—This splendid and valuable es tablishment was founded in 1785, by the venerable C. W. Peale, to whose indefatigable and praise-worthy exertions it is chiefly indebted for its present eminence. It was in corporated in 1821, is the first in the United States, and but little inferior to the imperial museums of Europe. It is displayed with scientific method and pleasing neatness. The quadruped room contains two hundred and forty ani mals, preserved in appropriate attitudes, and all but the largest in glass cases. The long room displays an elegant range of cases, containing birds from every quarter of the globe to the number of 1240 ; two hundred portraits of characters distinguished during and since the American revolution, besides philosophers of Europe and America ; a splendid collection of minerals, fossils, and miscellaneous curiosities, amounting to near eight thousand articles.
The mammoth room exhibits the stupendous skeleton of the mammoth, which was dug up in the state of New-York, in 1801, by C. W. Peale, at great expense. This skeleton of an antediluvian animal, whose species no longer exists, measures eighteen feet in length, eleven feet five inches in height. In this room are, likewise, instruments of war, tools, dresses, upwards of eight hundred in number, and a large picture of Christ healing the sick, by C. W. Peale. The marine room (up the lobby stairs) contains an extern sive variety of marine animals, reptiles, shells, Ike., and a portion of it is appropriated for anatomical preparations, deformities, &c.
Medical Society —A society of students, who met for mutual improvement, was formed in the year 1771. About the year 1790, another was formed, which, after a short time, was united with that previously existing ; the new association assumed the name of the " Philadelphia .Medi cal Society." Members are either honorary, or junior. The latter are to be examined previously to being bal loted for by a committee of the institution. The president and officers are generally changed every year. The so ciety meets only during the winter season.
College of Physicians.—This association was formed in the year 1787, and incorporated in the year 1789, by the legislature of Pennsylvania.
The objects of the college, as stated in their constitution, are, " to advance the science of medicine, and thereby to lessen human misery, by investigating the diseases and re medies which are peculiar to this country ; by observing the effects of different seasons, climates and situations upon the human body ; by recording the changes which are pro duced in diseases, by the progress of agriculture, arts, po pulation, and manners ; by searching for medicines in the American woods, waters, and in the bowels of the earth ; by enlarging the avenues to knowledge from the discove ries and publications of foreign countries, and by cultivat ing order and uniformity in the practice of physic.