D. 1p. and end. Cf. Minutes, p.144. General physical description: 10x8. Illustr. and explanation by Charles Willson Peale. See Peale to Benjamin Smith Barton, 1786 July 31 (Barton Papers). Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics
This is an elephant skeleton copied by Peale from the following publication: Mémoires de l'Académie royale des sciences. v. 3, pt. 3: Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire naturelle des animaux, dressés par M. [Claude] Perrault . . . Troisième partie (Paris, 1734). Planche de l'Elephant [skeleton: pl. 23, p. 99; limb bones: pl. 24, p. 100 (part)].
This volume includes six lectures, with rough drafts of two, on natural history, health, marriage and domestic happiness, the role of Peale's museum in educating the public, and a defense of Quaker pacifism. Some lectures have notes in an unknown hand. Three lectures are undated. This small collection contains a series of lectures that Peale delivered on a range of very important issues of the day. They include lectures on marriage, on natural history (four lectures), on the museum's educational purpose, on domestic happiness, and on health. All of these lectures hope to outline ways to improve society. There is also a fascinating lecture titled "a voice in behalf of the oppressed." Interestingly, part of this lecture defends Quaker pacifism, which runs counter to much of Peale's actions in the Revolutionary War in which he arrested pacifists. This change of heart that also comes through in his Autobiography when he apologizes for targeting Quakers during the war. This was previously housed as B P31.7a now house as Volume 25; Delivered May 17-18 in Philadelphia and June 4-5 in Baltimore
