440 Mc))ioriaI of George Broivu Goode. 



Smith's geological map of England was six years later, andGreenough's 

 still subsequent in date. 



The publication in London in 1813 of Bakewell's Introduction to Geol- 

 ogy seems to have given a great stimulus to geological researches in this 

 country, as may be judged from the publication of an American edition 

 a year or two later. 



Mitchill, Bruce, and Maclure soon had a goodly band of associates. 

 Naturalists were not confined to limited specialties in those days, and we 

 find all the chemists, botanists, and zoologists absorbed in the considera- 

 tion of geological problems. Maclure and most of the Americans were 

 disciples of Werner. 



Silliman, writing in 18 18, said: 



A grand outline has recently been drawn by Mr. Maclure with a masterly hand 

 and with a vast extent of personal observation and labor; but, to fill up the detail, 

 both observation and labor still more extensive are demanded; nor can the object be 

 effected till more good geologists are formed and distributed over our extensive 

 territory. 



On the 6th of September, 18 19, the American Geological vSociety was 

 organized in the philosophical room of Yale College, an e\'ent of great 

 importance in the history of science, hastening, as it seems to have done, 

 the establishment of State surveys and stimulating observation through- 

 out the coiuitry. This society, which continued in existence initil about 

 1826, may fairly be considered the nucleus of the Association of Ameri- 

 can Geologists and Naturalists, and, consequently, of the American Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science. Members appended to their 

 names the symbols M. A. G. S., and it was for a time the most active 

 of American .scientific societies. 



The characteristics of the leading spirits were summed up b>' Eaton at 

 the time of its beginning: 



The president of the American Geological Society, William M'Clure, has already 

 struck out the grand outline of North American geographical geology. The first vice- 

 president. Col. G. Gibbs, has collected more facts and amassed more geological and 

 mineralogical specimens than any other individual of the age. The second vice- 

 president, Professor Silliman, gives the true scientific dress to all the naked mineral- 

 ogical subjects which are furnished to liis hand. The third vice-president, I'rofessor 

 Cleaveland, is successfully emjjlo^fd in elucidating and familiarizing those interesting 

 sciences; and thus smoothing the fugged paths of the student. Professor Mitchill 

 has ama.s.sed a large store of materials, and annexed them to the labors of Cuvier 

 and Jameson. But the drudgery of climbing cliffs and descending into fissures and 

 caverns, and of traversing in all directions our most rugged mountainous districts, to 

 ascertain the distinctive characters, mniibcr, and order of oiu" strata, has de\c)]ved 

 on me.^ 



Eaton has very fairh' defined his own position among the early geolo- 

 gists, which was that of an ex])lorer and ])i()neer. The epithet, Father 

 of American Geology, which has sometimes been applied to him, might 



'Index to the Cieology of the NortlK-rn Stales, 2il edition, 1X20, ]>. \iii. 



