33 



I would in this connection, remark that the minerals in the State 

 collection as well as those sent to and designed for the different col 

 leges and institutions before mentioned, have been hitherto barely 

 numbered ; and in order to ascertain their names, locality &c. 

 reference to a corresponding number in manuscript catalogue was 

 necessary, to supply the desired information. It occurred to me 

 (and your directions clearly point out this desideratum,) that the 

 names and locality should be legibly written or printed and affixed 

 k/each specimen, and thus afford the spectator the required infor 

 mation from an inspection of the mineral itself. 



Accordingly I have thought it desirable to have printed 

 labels placed upon the minerals with their appropriate number 

 corresponding to the one on the catalogue, and have ordered a 

 suitable quantity of labels to be printed so as to supply the differ 

 ent institutions having a like collection of minerals from the same 

 localities and collected by the same geologist. These labels when 

 in readiness will be transmitted to their final destination upon ap 

 plication of those interested-. 



It would give me great pleasure if I could arrange the mine 

 rals and fossils in groups and in the order in which they occur; 

 For instance, I would be glad to arrange in one case the rocks and 

 fossils belonging to the Champlain division by themselves, so as 

 to indicate the natural order in which the formations occur be 

 ginning with the calciferous sandstone and following in order the 

 birds-eye limestone, Isle La Motte limestone, Trenton limestone, 

 tltica slate and Hudson River shales to the red sandstone 

 formation; 



In another case there might be arranged the Taconic group of 

 rocks, giving a separate place to the subdivisions of roofing slatej 

 sparry limestone, magnesian slate, Vermont marbles and granular 

 quartz, and so on, until all the minerals and fossils of the State 

 of Vermont are represented fully, and each in its proper place. 



With this arrangement there should be appended to each case 

 a brief description of the group or system therein exhibited, its 

 locality, extent, position and age, compared with other groups 

 represented in adjacent cases. 



But in the small room assigned by the Legislature for the ex 

 hibition of the specimens already collected, and hereafter to be col- 

 5 



