22 



erly contain one-tenth of the collections. A large house 

 was requested and finally secured, and conv^eniently 

 served as a museum, and as a biological, chemical, and 

 photographic laboratory. 



In June, 1877, prompted by motives of economy, and 

 unacquainted with the amount and value of the work 

 being done by the Commission, Government gave orders 

 for the temporary suspension of the Survey on the first 

 of July. But after the Minister of Agriculture and other 

 members of the Government had been convinced of the 

 loss Brazil would sustain by suddenly discontinuing such 

 an important undertaking, instructions were issued to 

 have the work go on in Rio, at least until the close of the 

 year. The Emperor, soon after returning to Rio (in the 

 autumn of 1877), fresh from the Museums of the Old 

 World and North America, carefully inspected the build- 

 ing and work of the Geological Commission. He was 

 astonished to find that the small party which he had left 

 eighteen months before, laboring quietly among the rocks 

 of the north of the Empire, had built up in his own capi- 

 tal just such a laborator}^ of science as he had enjoyed 

 tarr3nng in, in the many scientific centers he had lately 

 visited. He showed a just appreciation of the value of 

 the new Museum of Geolog}^ both to his own country 

 and to the world at large, and was generous in his words 

 of praise to the talented chief, who had so dearly earned 

 them. On leaving the building, almost the only thing he 

 said was, " your work shall continue." 



During the earl}^ part of last January, an entire change 

 was made in the Ministr}^ of Brazil, and before the sev- 

 eral departments had been entirely reorganized and the 

 appropriations determined upon, Piofessor Hartt died. 

 There was no one to succeed him, and his large collec- 

 tions were placed in the care of the National Museum at 

 Rio de Janeiro. It is expected that steps will be taken 

 by the Brazilian Government at an early date toward 

 publishing the many reports which were finished under 

 the direction of Prof. Hartt. The extent of these and of 

 the work done by the members of the Commission in 



