452 Learned Societtei. 



fidered the antiquity, changes, and the prefent ftate of theif 

 own country as primary objects oF their refearch ; and, with 

 a view to facilitate fuch difcoverics, a permanent committee 

 has been eftabUflied, amom'" whofe duties the loilowing; have 



" O CD 



been recommended as requiring particular attention : 



" I . To procure one or more entire fkeletons of the Mam- 

 moth, fo called, and of fuch other unknown animals as either 

 have been, or hereafter may be difcovered in America. 



" a. To obtain accurate plans, drawings, and dcfcriptiona 

 of whatever is^ inlerefting (where the originals cannot be 

 had) ; and cfpecially of ancient fortifications, tumuli, and 

 •ther Indian works of art : afcertaining the materials com- 

 pofing them, their contents, the purpofes for which they 

 were probably dcfigned, 8cc. 



" 3. To invite rcfearches into the natural hiftory of the 

 earth, the changes it has undergone as to mountains, lakes^ 

 rivers, prairies, &c. 



*' 4. To inquire into the cuflom?, manners, languages, 

 and charaflcr of the. Indian nations ancient and modern, 

 and their migrations. 



*' The importance of thcfe objedls will be acknowledged 

 by every lover of fcience, and, we truft, fufficiently apologifc 

 for thus troubling you ; ftn* without the aid of gentlemen 

 who have talle and opportunitv for fuch refearches, our 

 means would be very coulined. We therefore folicit your 

 communicalions, now or in future, on thefe fubjecls ; which 

 will be at all times thankfully received, and duly noticed ia 

 the publicalions of the Society. 



<' As to the firft objedl, the committee fuggeft, to gentle- 

 men who may be in the way of inquiries of that kind, that 

 the Great Bone Lick on the Ohio, and other places where 

 there may be mineral fait, are the moft eligible fpots for the 

 purpofe, becaufe animals are known to refort to fuch places. 



" With refpect to the fecond head, the committee are de- 

 (irous that cuts in various directions may be made into many 

 ©1 the luniuiij to afcertaiu their contents, whik the diaiueter 



of 



