27 



ute of 1853 requires no report to be made until &quot; sufficient facts 

 and materials shall have been collected upon the subject of Phys 

 ical Geography, Scientific Geology and Mineralogy of the State to 

 form a volume of not less than five hundred pages octavo,&quot; yet the 

 peculiar circumstances I have referred to and the natural and 

 laudable curiosity of the people of the State in regard to a matter 

 in which they have manifested great interest from the outset of 

 the Geological Survey, seemed to require of me a plain and un 

 varnished statement of such facts and explanations as would satis 

 fy all reasonable enquiries. 



In drawing this communication to an abrupt close I would, with 

 due diffidence, express a hope that this statement and the appen 

 dix thereto may be laid before the General Assembly at your 

 early convenience if your Excellency deem it proper, with such 

 accompanying executive remarks as may secure to it a patient 

 perusal and a candid consideration. 



I have the honor to remain 



Your Excellency s obedient servant, 

 AUGUSTUS YOUNG, State Naturalist. 



ST. ALBANS VERMONT, October 10th, 1856. 



