New-York tribune., 1868-05-01
THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CONVENTION
New-York delegates to the Soldiers and
Sailors Convention, be held in Chicago May l9 1863
Enterad hv tla oval Vefarans
THE LYcEuM OF NATURAL HISTORY.

A distinguished company of citizens and for
egners Of both assembled in the large hall OF the
Cooper Union Wednesday assist at the celebration OF
semi-cenennal anniversary Of tho organization OF
the Lyceum Of Natural History. Many persons have
been delighted with tie graphic delineatlons by Mr
Waterh9uso Hawkins Oh the internal s,rgctuIe snc
certain facts Of science In their popular aspect;
by original Investigations which are frequently under.
taken by persons better versed I'm the echnicalites OF
ganzo themselves into societies for mutual conference
National History il one Of tho leading associations formed
abors uuOstentatousy and without display Prof John
icio OF the Lyceum and said that about the middle OF
investigation ~ scientific subjects to send 10 Europe
for tho necessary publications In 1903 the Flora OF North
PIE description Of 700 plants. all that could
hen be found on the continent; but which d..
sf 30 miles Of New-York This work was followed in a
short time by another on the oaks OF inns country pub
lshed In three volumes and IN the French, but subse-
sucntly translated into the English language The publ
cation OF these works suggested the OF
botanic garden ana such an institution was founded Ia
1904, between Fifth aud Sxth-aves., at Fortyelghthst
lhls garden was 6ought Dy the state IN iso ana pre-
senied To scientific colleges but as TINS INSTITUTION re-
garded IL somewhat OF elephant, the state was
accordingly done, ana III was then given TO Columbia
College, on condition that the college should
found II inconvenient to remove there at the time
and had the condition repealed yet 80 little did the Col
appreciate te glit tne Officers
OF $1,000 would be more benefit to their Institution, and
leased the property for twenty years, at 500 ayear-a
property which would sell today for not less
than n million OF dollars There, however
lectures were delivered by Prof Mitchell, and
the garden furnished the means for the people OF New
York to study the pansOf the country Following these
things tho genera" Of the plants OF North Amer
lea, written by bookseller Of Gcorgetown, In the Dis
rict OF Columbia This work received great attention
from naturalists, and excited considerable com
ment. la the month OF February, 1877 the Ly
ceum Of Natural History organized In Harmony Hail.
IN "A very modest way. There was no grand banquet
only crackers aud cheese aud gallon OF good beer The
Society soon aferward obtained n In hall which
has been since mmorallzed In the on Fanny aud
scudder's Balcony" From Seuddel's the Society re-
moved TO the corner OF Centre and Whtess ana soon
two lots on broadway whereon was erected
building but this property obliged 10 be sold and
he Society removed 10 the Stuyvesant Institute, and
hence 10 fourteenth-st, changing again tO Madson-ayc
md soon afterwar 10 the Cooper Onion. where the Ly
ceum OF Natural History hopes 10 maintain useful ex
ktence. (Applause
The Rev. T. A. T. Barnard. d. D.. IL D., President OF
Columbia College, followed with very loHg discourse
The Relation OF Science to the Advancement Of CyiiZ
tiOn, and the EIpedency OF Public Provision for the
upport and Encouragement OF Scientific Inquiry"
The Rev. j. l.. Thompson, d. d., was announced TO
peak on "The Eleyating Influences which Scientific Or
anizatiOns Exert Great Cities" As 10 was nearly
1 o'clock however. he gracefully declined. After the
jenedetion pronounced the audience favored
yieh selections from The Grand Duchess"