FOREWORD 169 



Canada. During 1835-36, he was principal of the Charles- 

 ton Academy in Stanstead, Canada. He studied theology 

 during his spare time and in May, 1837 he was ordained 

 deacon in the Protestant Episcopal Church. He returned 

 to Burlington in 1837 where he made his home until his 

 death, January 19, 1856. For a few years following 1837 

 he was instructor at the Vermont Episcopal Institute in 

 Burlington. 



In early boyhood he had great love for all objects in 

 nature. Nothing pleased him more than to wander in the 

 fields and woods and study the plants and the habits of 

 the animals. During his college course he made botany, 

 zoology and geology his specialty, and in these subjects 

 he became a recognized authority. During 1845-47, he 

 was assistant State Geologist and from 1853 until his death 

 was the State Geologist. One of his great undertakings was 

 the collecting of over 3,000 specimens of Vermont produc- 

 tions. He served as professor of natural history at the 

 University of Vermont during 1851-56 and as professor 

 of chemistry in 1851-54. 



He was also an able mathematician and as early as 

 1819 began publishing an almanac. He made the astro- 

 nomical observations for the Vermont Register for many 

 years ; and from 1822 until his death he was the astro- 

 nomical editor of Walton's Vermont Register. 



He was a prolific writer. His first book was a 

 "Gazetteer of the State of Vermont, containing a brief 

 General View of the State," a work containing an his- 

 torical and topographical description of all the counties, 

 towns and rivers ; also a map and several cuts ; 12 mo., 

 310 pp., published by E. P. Walton in 1824. 



