II 



demonstrating to its sons the very phenomena which -they 

 will have to deal with in practice. 



For the elucidation and elaboration of the results which 

 still lie dormant, as it were, in these specimens, (comprising 

 nearly one-half of the whole work,) it is indispensable that 

 there should be at command, if not a library, at least a con- 

 siderable number of books not usually found in general li- 

 braries. The greater part of the books so required, the ex- 

 pense of which is not inconsiderable, were purchased by the 

 University during its connexion with the survey, with a spe- 

 cial view to the necessities of the latter ; whilst they cannot 

 be found in the State library at Jackson, nor so far as 1 know, 

 in any other library in the State. Were the head-quarters 

 of the survey to be" removed from Oxford, it would become 

 necessary to purchase these books once more, and a special 

 appropriation would be required for the purpose. 



In view of these objections, nothing short of very con- 

 siderable advantages to be realized by the removal, could 

 justify the same. But there is not actually a single one to 

 be gained, unless indeed, that the State of Mississippi could 

 not afford to provide for its geological survey, other accom- 

 modations than two rooms in the Penitentiary, or other as- 

 sistance than that of a convict. 



The rent of rooms suitable for the purposed of the sur- 

 vey would, in any case, be but a trifling expense ; but even 

 this extra expenditure may perhaps be avoided in the pres- 

 ent, the board of Trustees having, at their last meeting, ex- 

 pressed their willingness that such rooms in the University 

 buildings as, in the discretion of the President, were not re- 

 quired for University purposes, might be appropriated to the 

 use of the survey. There appears to be little doubt that the 

 collections can and will be thus accomodated, it being in the 

 interest of the University to have them near at hand. An 

 apartment for a laboratory may not be as readily found, there 

 being special requirements to render a room suitable for that 

 purpose j but the difficulties to be overcome in this respect, 



