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responsibility of carrying out the views of the society.

From the absence of general interest among the members, and the lazy animus and insouciance which pervades the majority of that body, the chief power is left with the paid officers of the society, and to them, in a great measure is assigned, the controul of the "moral opinion" of the mass of members.

This, we fear, is the feature which characterizes most of the learned societies, though young institutions are springing up, which, by a careful study of the rocks on which the older ones have split and benefitting by the sad example, are likely, by a careful culling of the good qualities, and eschewing the questionable points, to carry out the objects of their formation -- in a liberal and praiseworthy spirit, which augurs well of future success.

Your account of the state