been described in the Systema Naturae. Those objects are highly in- 

 teresting to naturalists and the solution of several points of scientific 

 critique will depend upon the re-examination of the specimens, as some 

 of them have at a late period been obtained from other States further 

 north, and considered as the things mentioned by Garden, although upon 

 minute examination they may be found to differ. This is a question 

 which might have been solved already with the assistance of a museum 

 in Charleston. The work of Stephen Elliott upon the plants of South 

 Carolina, that of Dr. Holbrook upon the reptiles of the U. S. in his 

 Southern Icthyology, the publication of Dr. Bachman upon quadrupeds 

 and birds, the lists of shells of Dr. Ravenel, those of Crustacea and lower 

 animals by Dr. L. R. Gibbes, the lists of fossils in Mr. Tuomey's Geo. Re- 

 port, those mentioned by Mr. F. S. Holmes, and many isolated papers 

 published by Naturalists of South Carolina, in scientific periodical works, 

 among which the papers of R. W. Gibbes are prominent, have given to the 

 objects their [sic] mentioned an increased value, which will forever make 

 zoological collections and fossils gathered in South Carolina more valu- 

 able for Museums in Europe than those of any other part of the Union; 

 and I am sure for such specimens the Directors of museums abroad 

 would be happy to send equally valuable returns. There is another 

 point which will make the museum of Charleston very important. I 

 mean the recent discovery of so many fossil remains of the higher class 

 of Animals, which by themselves might form in a few years a collection 

 unrivalled anywhere; not to speak of the interest of bringing out fully 

 the natural character of the Fauna of the Southern States. It is to be 

 hoped that with such prospects, the formation of a museum of Natural 

 History in Charleston, will be hailed with satisfaction, and that all who 

 can contribute specimens, or otherwise advance the interest of science, 

 will come forward on this occasion to hasten so desirable a result. ' 



"These views of Prof. Agassiz are of the highest authority and im- 

 portance, and present powerful motions for the adoption of the plan which 

 he so strongly recommends. 



"In a personal interview with the Rev. Dr. Bachman and a full inter- 

 change of opinion with him on this matter, he had the kindness to under- 

 take to communicate with Professor Tuomey and Mr. Francis Holmes, 

 and on the 14th of March last the Chairman addressed a letter to Dr. 

 Bachman, submitting the leading points on which the Committee desired 

 to ascertain the sentiments of Professor Tuomey and Mr. Holmes' about 

 the 5th ultimo. Dr. Bachman wrote a note to the Chairman covering- 

 valuable communications from Mr. Holmes to him, of the 18th of May, 



^Evidently the period should follow Mr. Holmes' name, but I have given the punctuation 

 as it occurred in the original. — W. G. M. 



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