ae Introductory Remarks. 
new research with some interesting discovery. Our minera- 
logy, however, is a treasure but just opened. That both sei- 
ence and art may expect much advantage from this source, is 
sufficiently evinced by the success which has crowned the ac- 
tive efforts of afew ardent cultivators of this science : severa} 
new species have been added to it in this country ; great num- 
bers of American localities of minerals discovered, and inter- 
esting additions made to our materials, for the useful and orna- 
mental arts. The science of mineralogy is now illustrated by 
courses of lectures,-and by several good cabinets in the differ- 
ent states. Among the cabinets, the splendid collection of Col. 
Gisss, now in Yale College, (a munificent purosrr for the ben- 
efit of his country,) stands pre-eminent: it would be consider- 
ed as avery noble cabinet in any part of Europe: and its in- 
troduction into the United States, and its gratuitous dedication 
to the promotion of science, are equally advantageous to the 
community, and honourable to its patriotic and enlightened pro- 
prietor. Mineralogy is most intimately connected with our 
arts, and especially with our agriculture. 
Such are the disguises worn by many most useful mineral 
substances, that an unskilful observer is liable to pass a thing 
by, as worthless, which, if better informed, he would seize with 
avidity ; and, still more frequently, a worthless substance, » 
clothed perhaps in a brilliant and attractive exterior, excites 
hopes altogether delusive, and induces expense, without a pos- 
sibility of remuneration. A diffusion of correct knowledge on 
this subject is the only adequate remedy for either evil. 
Our geology, also, presents a most interesting field of inqui- 
ry. A grand outline has recently been drawn by Mr. 
Maclure, with a masterly hand, and with a vast extent of per- 
sonal observation and labour: but to fill up the detail, both ob- 
servation 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. 
To account for the formation and changes of our globe, by 
excursions of the imagination, often splendid and imposing, but 
usually visionary, and almost always baseless, was, till within 
half a century, the business of geological speculations ; but 
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