PREFATORY Nor 



Various circumstance- have retarded the publication of this 

 volume, which was intended to have appeared in the preced- 

 ing year. Measures have been taken to prevent a similar 

 delay in future. The Society have materials on hand with 

 which they hope soon to begin the publication of the fourth 

 volume of this series. 



Since the publication of our catalogue in 1 v 2 I, the lib] 

 of the society has been considerably increased: so much 

 that an additional catalogue has been ordered to be made, 

 which is now in preparation. Our cabinel also has bei n 

 larged by numerous contributions, some of which 

 valuable. Among them may be particularized the coll 

 of .Mexican minerals and antiquities, for which we are in- 

 debted to the munificence of our fellow member, Mr Poin- 

 sett, late minister from this country to the United Mexican 

 States. — the additions which have been made to those i 

 lections by another of our members, Mr William II. Keat- 

 ing, — and the complete series of the various earths and 

 developed in the greal excavation of the Chesapeaki 

 Delaware Canal, which we have re< from Andrew Al- 



fred Dexfc :. Esq., one of the engineers of thai work. 



In the course of the last live \. • •-. leath ha- deprived I 

 society of many of its most valuable members. At homew< 

 have to lam< nt the loss of Thomas J< fferson, John Adam 

 and De Witt Clinton, three of the greatesl men that tin- 

 country ha- produced: qi \t to them w. must plao our lit' 



