102 BULLETIN 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



ment "that species, and probably genera also, are formed in organ- 

 ized beings by gradual deviations of shapes^ forms, and organs, tak- 

 ing place in the lapse of time. There is a tendenc}^ to deviations and 

 mutations through plants and animals by gradual steps. « * ♦ 



Tliis view of the subject will settle botany and zoology in a new 

 way and greatly simplify these sciences. The races, breeds, or varie- 

 ties of men, monkeys, dogs, roses, apples, wheat, * * * ^nd 

 almost every other genus may be referred to one or a few primitive 

 species." ' 



In 1836 Dr. Samuel P. Hildreth, of Marietta, Ohio, contributed to 

 the American Jourrial of Science and Arts (vol. 29, p. 1) a volumi- 

 nous paper, Observations on the Biturainous Coal Deposits in the 

 Valley of the Ohio and the accompanying strata, etc., 156 pages, illus- 

 trated bj' 36 pages of woodcut figures of fossils and sections of strata 

 throughout the text, in which he gave many facts as to the existence 

 of iron ore in quantity, salt water, petroleum, inflammable gas, and 

 coal in various localities, some of which, he said, had been commu- 

 nunicated to him bj' the present writer [Dr. Peter], who at that 

 time, being attached to the medical department of Transylvania 

 University, had obtained most of them from the inedi(,'al students 

 who came from the several localities in Kentucky. 



On December 28, 1838, W. W. Mather made a report to Governor 

 Clark of a Geological Ktconnoissance of Kentucky, in accordance 

 with the following joint resolution of the general assembly of that 

 State and his appointment by the governor: 



Where:;s, It is importaut to the agricultural, luanuiacturing, and commercial 

 Interests of tliis Commonwealth tliat its mineral wealth and resources should be 

 well understood and be properly developed : Therefore — 



Be it resolved hy the General A-ssembli/ of the Commonwealtli of Kentucky, 

 That it shall be lawful for the goveinor of this Commonwealth to appoint some 

 competent person to prepare and report to the next general assembly a plan, in 

 detail, for a geologic;;! and mineralogieal purvey of this State, together with the 

 probable annual expenses and the time necessary to complete said survey. It 

 shall be the duty of the person thus appointed by the governor to visit the 

 mineral regions of the State and make geological reconnoissance thereof and 

 report to the next general assembly his views thereon, and whether, in his 

 opinion, the expense attending such survey, as is proposed, will be compensateri 

 by the facts to be developed. 



And he it further resolved. That to enable the governor to carry into effect 

 this resolution the sum of not exceeding ?1,000 is hereby appropriated. 



Approved February 16, 1838. 



Doctor Mather's report is coiiiprised within 40 octavo pages, in- 

 cluding 7 pages of a " glossary of terms." His instructions were " to 

 make a general geological and mineralogieal reconnoissance of the 



> From his Atlantic .Journal, Extra of No. 6. Philadelphia, 1833. 



