PEESIDEXTIAL ADDRESS. 41 



This early study of a fossil vertebrate was followed 20 years 

 later by the first paper which touched upon invertebrates — that 

 by vSay on ■• Fossil Zoology," in the first volume of Silliman's 

 Journal. Lesueur seems to have brought from France some 

 knowledge of the names of fossils, and identified many species 

 for the early American geologists. 



Stratigraphical and physical geology also came in at this time, 

 and will be referred to later. 



The science of mineralogy was brought to America in its 

 infancy. The first course of lectures upon this subject ever 

 given in London was in the winter of 1793-4. by Schmeisser, 

 a pupil of Werner. Dr. David Hosack. then a student of 

 medicine at Edinburgh, was one of his hearers, and inspired bv 

 his enthusiasm began at once to form the collection of minerals 

 which he brought to America on his return in 1794, which was 

 the first mineralogical cabinet ever seen on this side of the 

 Atlantic. This collection was exhibited for many years in Xew 

 York (and in 1S21 was given to Princeton College). Howard 

 soon after obtained a select cabinet from Europe, and the 

 museum of the American Philosophical Society acquired the 

 Smith collection. In 1S02, Mr. B. D. Perkins, a New York 

 bookseller, brought from London a fine collection, which soon 

 passed into the possession of Yale College, and in 1803 Dr. Arch- 

 ibald Bruce brought over one equally fine. ^^ aich was made the 

 basis of lectures Avhen in 1S06 he became professor of miner- 

 alogy in Columbia College. George Gibbs. in 1S05, imported 

 the magnificent collection which was long in the custody of the 

 American Geological Society. Seybert, about the same time, 

 brought to Philadelphia the cabinet which in 1813 was bought 

 by the Academy of Natural Sciences and was lectured upon bv 

 Troost in 1814. 



on the James River, about sixty miles above its mouth the colonists had 

 tbund shells and bones, among these bones that of a whale, eigiiteen teet 

 below the surface. — Neill's Virginia Carolorum. p. 131. 



