158 Journal of the Mitchell Society [March 



ed Professor of Mathematics and E'atural Philosophy in this 

 University in place of Dr. Caldwell, made President a second 

 time after the resignation of Dr. Kobert H. Chapman. Pro- 

 fessor Mitchell reported for duty January 31st, 1818. 



He applied himself to his duties with great diligence. To 

 him is the honor of introducing into the curriculum the study 

 of Differential and Integral Calculus, then called Fluxions. 

 His favorite study however was Nature, and in 1825, on the 

 departure of Professor Olmstead to Yale, he was at his own 

 request transferred to the Chair of Chemistry, Geology and 

 Mineralogy, Mr. James Phillips taking his former chair. Bota- 

 ny was also under his charge. 



It was at this time that the General Assembly made a small 

 appropriation for a Geologic Survey of the State. For about 

 six months Olmstead was director and then Mitchell succeeded. 

 Each published a short preliminary Report. The appropriation 

 was not renewed. 



In 1835 Professor Mitchell made tours through the counties 

 of Johnston, Wayne, Onslow, Craven and Beaufort, and then 

 through Alamance, Guilford, and the counties west, as far as 

 Buncombe, for the study of the Geology, Mineralogy and Botany 

 of the State. He embodied is observations in closely written 

 letters to his wife. These were shortly before her death given 

 to the University by his unmarried daughter Margaret, and 

 were published as one of the James Sprunt Historical Mono- 

 graphs, with annotations by Dr. Battle, the Professor of His- 

 tory. He made subsequent tours in our mountain counties in 

 1838, 1844 and 1856, discovering in 1844 the highest peak east 

 of the Rocky Mountains, now called in his honor Mount 

 Mitchell. 



After the death of President Caldwell in January of this 

 year he was Chairman of the Faculty for a year, until the ar- 

 rival of President Swain in January 1836; and was an efficient 

 executive officer. 



While Dr. Mitchell lived in Connecticut he was a member of 

 the Congregational Church. After his removal to Chapel Hill 

 he joined that of the Presbyterian and was ordained to the 



