50 



necessary protection to the promotion of science and 

 the useful arts, without the exercise of any doubtful 

 power, by the application of the annual interest of 

 this fund to the establishment of an observatory, the 

 erection of suitable buildings to contain the collec- 

 tions, and for lecture rooms, the purchase of books 

 and instruments, and the salaries of professors and 

 curators. Specimens of natural history are rapidly 

 accumulating. The exploring expedition has already 

 sent home a large collection, which remains packed 

 away in boxes in a room belonging to the Philadel- 

 phia museum, generously loaned by the company for 

 that purpose ; and we may anticipate from the ability 

 and well known zeal of the naturalists who accom- 

 panied it by order of Government, that the squadron 

 itself, shortly expected, will return richly freighted 

 with objects of natural history. I cannot believe that 

 after all the labor, pains, and expense incurred in pro- 

 curing them, these specimens are not to be brought 

 to Washington, to be arranged and exhibited here. 

 A geological survey of the Territory of Iowa was 

 made a few months since, by order of the Govern- 

 ment, and numerous valuable specimens collected 

 by Mr. Owen. Mr. Nicolet has brought with him in- 

 teresting collections made in the country he visited, 

 and Doctor King, of Missouri, lately sent to the lead 

 region on business connected with the ordnance 

 office, while there collected specimens of minerals 

 which are likewise destined for Washington. The 

 ordnance officers who have lately returned from 

 Europe, have brought with them numerous speci- 

 mens of the iron ores used in the foundries there, and 



