10 Featherstonhaugh^s Geological Report. 



men in the present Congress, for whose judgment I have 

 great deference, and who, having experienced the difficulties 

 which are inseparable from the study of scientific works, 

 where the higher branches are alone treated of, and where 

 the technicalities are entirely left unexplained, have sug 

 gested the usefulness of appending to my report a glossary or 

 explanation of the common terms used in geology. Believing, 

 therefore, that I have not formed an erroneous estimate of 

 what maybe deemed both expedient and useful at the present 

 moment, and having for my sole motive the accomplishment 

 of a general good, I have given a brief account of the ex 

 isting mineral beds both in Europe and America, as far as 

 regards their general structure and order of succession to each 

 other, adding such observations concerning the nomenclature 

 that has been applied to them, as may serve to soften the 

 difficulties to those who are engaging for the first time with 

 geological literature, and to assist in guiding observers in 

 ascertaining the geological position of the rocks which are 

 the subjects of their investigation. This part of the subject 

 will be found further illustrated by a comparative tabular 

 view of the geological column in both hemispheres. 



Perhaps the propriety of the extended form which this re 

 port takes, may be safely placed upon other considerations. 

 Those who, like myself, have witnessed the rise and progress 

 of civil engineering in this country, are well acquainted with 

 the causes of that frequent misapplication of means in the 

 construction of some of our earliest and most important inter 

 nal improvements, and the influence of which only ceased in 

 proportion as experience and study had converted good sur 

 veyors into expert engineers. The country having become 

 awakened to the value of its mineral resources, the States 

 aie now legislating on this important subject, and the same 

 process will have to be repeated in the coming extension of 

 geological surveys. Men of enthusiasm and energy in the 

 acquisition of information connected with natural history, 



