Association of American Geologists and Naturalists. 237 
of the number and frequency of the reports, to notice them all; 
especially as it was an agreeable duty to remark upon such valu- 
able labors, where there was so much to commend and s0 little 
that merited criticism. 
Foreign geologists may not be aware, that frequent reports, 
usually annual, on the geology of those states that are under sur- 
vey, are either prescribed by their respective legislatures, or are 
deemed necessary by the geologists, to sustain the popular confi- 
dence and public spirit until a long continued labor, perhaps of 
several years, shall have been consummated ; otherwise, there 
might be danger that the necessary annual appropriations of 
money would be withheld, and that thus an important enterprise 
might be defeated ; this danger has been encountered in several 
cases, and has been realized, we trust only temporarily, in more 
than one. 
We confide however in the intelligence and patriotism of our 
citizens ultimately to carry out these great undertakings, even in 
those states whose resources are the most embarrassed; and we 
have already expressed our confidence, that sooner or later every 
state and territory will be faithful to itself, in exploring its own 
resources by geological surveys, under public authority. 
We can readily believe, that it might have been more agreea- 
ble to the state geologists to hold back their annual reports, until 
their entire labor should have been accomplished ; for, a mature 
view of the whole ground might, very possibly, modify early and 
partial conclusions. For these ultimate results, we must patiently 
Wait until the final reports in the different states are made. That 
of Prof. Hitchcock on the geology of Massachusetts, is already 
before the public in a third edition, revised and enlarged by the 
author, under the authority of the state, and the last edition is in 
two large quartos, expensively illustrated by numerous plates and 
figures. Distinct reports have also been made in the state of 
Massachusetts on all the departments of natural history. 
It was stated last year by Prof. Hitchcock, that the final report 
on New Jersey@by Prof. H. D. Rogers, with a geological map and 
sections of the state, was published in 1840. In the same year 
Dr. Jackson’s final report on Rhode Island appeared, including 
agriculture, with a geological map and sections. 
Prof. Charles U. Shepard in 1839, published a report upon the 
economical mineralogy of Connecticut, and his colleague, Dr. 
