^5 



perhaps further investigation will add platina, tin, and silver. But little has yet 

 been done to avail ourselves of these productions. Mining, as a profession, is un- 

 known to us. Educated as agriculturists, merchants, mechanics, or professional 

 men, we pass almost unnoticed these sources of individual and national wealth. 

 The time has surely arrived for turning our attention to them. If we are not to 

 await their slow development under the pressing necessity of our wants, we must 

 begin at once to induce persons to enter on this new pursuit, by educating them 

 for it. Geology and Mineralogy, thoroughly taught, will enable them to under- 

 take the search after these hidden resources with every prospect of success. Ge- 

 ology will point out the places in which they are to be found ; Mineralogy will de- 

 tect them amidst the useless materials by which they may be surrounded. 



" It is not to the practical miners of Europe, or of other countries, that we ought 

 to look for improvement in the profession of mining. In so important a matter 

 we must depend Upon ourselves. We are capable of accomplishing it, and should 

 not hesitate to set about it. Our people have no superstitious influences to over- 

 come, and while they are free to receive and ready to embrace instruction in other 

 matters, there is no reason why they should not be enlightened in this. 



" It is believed that the most powerful agent to effect this beneficial design will be 

 the existence of an extensive cabinet, at the seat of Government, of specimens of 

 Geology and Mineralogy, drawn from every portion of our territory, and so arran- 

 ged as to present, at one view, all the mineral resources of each particular State, 

 and where these important sciences may be taught by courses of lectures, which, 

 together, will form a school of mining that cannot fail to be extensively useful, 

 and lead to the early and full development of this great source of individual pros- 

 perity and national wealth." 



"A certain degree of knowledge in botany is desirable to every one. It leads 

 to a comprehension of the properties and uses of the trees of our forests, and 

 teaches to distinguish wholesome from deleterious plants, as well as to dis- 

 cover those that possess medicinal properties, which abound in our country. 



" Although not enumerated among the principal departments of science into which 

 the Institution is organized, the importance of it has not been overlooked. It will 

 be one of the most cherished objects of the National Institution, to establish, at 

 some future day, a Botanic Garden, where plants of every country and every clime 

 may be introduced, and their properties studied." 



" With a view to promote the principal object of its creation, the Institution has 

 devoted one section to the application of science to the useful arts. .Technology, 

 the name given to the science which teaches this application, is not found in the 

 encyclopedias and works of a similar character published fifty years ago, and until 

 that period the application of the principles and discoveries of science to the useful 

 arts was not pursued in such a manner as to render it a constituent part of the 

 operations of the manufacturer. The foundation of this science has, however, since 

 then been solidly laid, and in the rapid progress of discovery within that period we 



