LECTURES. 143 



exclusively in view ; he paid also less attention to the original sketches 

 of the discoverers, and did not go with his collection as far hack into 

 former times as we wish to do. He admitted only such general maps 

 of America as were printed and which he could purchase. He pro- 

 cured no copies or fac- similes of those unique maps which cannot he 

 had in tlie original. 



From Eheling to the present time I know of no one who has made a 

 similar attempt or proposition, with the exception of Lieutenant E. 

 B. Hunt, of the United States corps of Engineers, who, in the year 

 1853, brought before the American Association for the Promotion of 

 Science a project for establishing a geographical collection as a dis- 

 tinct and independent department. He wished it to embrace "all 

 materials illustrating the early and recent geography of the United 

 States, both its sea-coast and interior, including traced copies of all 

 valuable maps acd charts in manuscript and not published ; also, the 

 materials for illustrating the past and present geography of each 

 State, country, township, and city," and, in the same manner, "all 

 tlie maps and charts on the remainder of America. Further, the ad- 

 miralty or sea-coast charts of all the European and other foreign 

 States, and the detailed topographical surveys of their interiors — at 

 least the most approved maps published from private sources, whether 

 as atlases, nautical charts, or naval maps, including publications on 

 physical geography, guide-books, railroad maps, and city handbooks." 

 Further, Mr. Hunt wished to combine with the above a complete series 

 of the narratives of voyages of discovery and exploration, besides geo- 

 graphical, geodetical, and nautical manuals and treatises, with all the 

 requisite bibliographical aids to the amplest geopraphieal investiga- 

 tion. 



Mr. Hunt's primary object in advocating the formation of this col- 

 lection was to provide for the wants of Congress ; but, at the same 

 time, he wished that it should furnish facilities to the State Depart- 

 ment, the Bureau of Engineers and Topographical Engineers, the 

 Coast Survey, the National Observatory, and the several naval bureaus. 



"The value of such a collection," says Mr, Hunt, " in its relation 

 to legislation, in its illustration of river and harbor questions, in its 

 prospective use for illustrating history, and generally as a means of 

 exalting and correcting our geographical knowledge, gives it most 

 truly the character of a national enterprise." 



Of all the plans and propositions of this kind of which I have any 

 knowledge that of Mr, Hunt comes the nearest to my own, as well in 

 the objects aimed at as in the means by which he desired to eflect them. 

 My principal deviation from his plan consists in this, that the collec- 

 tion I propose shall be as exclusively as possible American. American 

 maps are what is wanted the most, not only here but everywhere, be- 

 cause they have been until now the worst provided for. At a later 

 period we might try to include the whole world ; but such a work is 

 t<)0 enormous to be undertaken at once. 



Further, Mr, Hunt proposed a general geographical department, 

 and wished to put library and maps on the same footing ; whilst I 

 desire, at least, to begin with a mere chartographical depot, to which 

 a small library may be added, as subsidiarj*- merely ; and this, too. 



