22 



brief and so obscurely expressed in a system of contractions to 

 which he has left no key, that I find it nearly impossible to derive 

 any information from them. After spending much time over these 

 notes to very little purpose, I applied to Prof. Adams widow, 

 thinking it possible that she might be so well acquainted with his 

 method of taking notes as to be able to decipher them ; but she 

 declined undertaking it, thinking it doubtful about being able to 

 make out anything from them which would be of service to me. J 



With regard to the collection of &quot; minerals, field-notes, maps 

 and all preparations amassed by the first State Geologist for a 

 final report upon the Geological Survey,&quot; I would here state that 

 they were duly deposited in the State House in the care of the 

 State Librarian, and subsequently taken into the custody of the 

 Jate State Naturalist. The specimens which were in a proper con 

 dition for a State Cabinet were suffered to remain at Montpelier, 

 and the other specimens which have been since partially examined, 

 trimmed and catalogued, I have ordered to be transported to Mont 

 pelier. Those specimens which were in a proper condition have 

 been temporarily arranged in the room set apart for that purpose, 

 and the residue are collected in room No. 37 of the State House, 

 to be distributed at an early day to the literary and medical in 

 stitutions of the State which are entitled to the same, and the bal 

 ance to be in readiness for future foreign exchanges when deemed 

 desirable. Although at present not in such order and perfection 

 as might be wished, yet they indicate the abundance and variety 

 of the mineral wealth of Vermont, and suggest the benefits which 

 will undoubtedly flow from its thorough development. 



In regard to the size of the specimens for the several collections, 

 the rule adopted at the outset of the Geological Survey prescribed 

 that, when the materials admitted, the specimens were to be three 

 inches square and not less than one inch in thickness. Eight 

 suites of these minerals duly trimmed, numbered and named were 

 to be preserved, whose destination was to be as follows : One (and 

 the best one when there was a choice,) for a State Collection at 

 Montpelier ; one for the University of Vermont ; one for Middle- 

 bury College ; one for Norwich University ; one for each of the 

 Medical Colleges at Castleton and Woodstock; one for the Troy 

 Conference Academy at Poultney and one to be the property of 

 the State Geologist. 



With some exceptions, the specimens of more than two thou- 



