50 



of the annual interest of this fund to the establishment 

 of an observatory, the erection of suitable buildings to 

 contain the collections, and for lecture rooms, the pur- 

 chase of books and instruments, and the salaries of pro- 

 fessors 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 Phil- 

 adelphia museum, generously loaned by the company 

 for that purpose ; and we may anticipate from the ability 

 and well known zeal of the naturalists who accompan- 

 ied it by order of Government, that the squadron itself, 

 shortly expected, will return richly freighted with ob- 

 jects of natural history. I cannot believe that after all 

 the labor, pains, and expense incurred in procuring them, 

 these specimens are not to be brought to Washington, 

 to be arranged and exhibited here. A geological sur- 

 vey of the Territory of Iowa was made a few months 

 since, by order of the Government, and numerous val- 

 uable specimens collected by Mr. Owen. Mr. Nicolet 

 has brought with him interesting 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 specimens 

 of the iron ores used in the foundries there, and mea- 

 sures have been taken to procure, as objects of compari- 

 son, those of the United States. 



Several individuals have transmitted donations to the 

 Institution, while others have deposited their collections 

 with us, from a desire to have them preserved, and, at 



