DIFFICULTIES OF PUBLICATION 



of copies of the reports to be printed was narrowly re- 

 stricted. These were to be sent to the sovereigns of the 

 world and to a few libraries of commanding importance. 

 Hence, at the present time, a complete set is but rarely 

 seen. Two of the best sets are now owned by the New 

 York Public Library. Sets more or less perfect may be 

 found in Washington, Baltimore, Boston. Years after its 

 appearance, Dana's friend, Dr. Wells Williams, happened 

 to see exposed for sale, in a Chinese shop in Canton, an 

 elegantly bound copy of the Geology that had been pre- 

 sented by the United States government to the Emperor 

 of China. He bought it and sent it to the author, in 

 whose library it remains, with the following note : 



" This volume (and doubtless also the atlas of plates) 

 was sent by the U. S. government to the Emperor of 

 China. It was received by the Gov. -General in Canton, 

 but not forwarded to the Emperor because this required 

 that an ambassador should present it as tribute. Before 

 the English sacked Canton, the books were stolen from 

 the office and sold, this among the number. It was 

 afterwards purchased by my friend and schoolmate, S. 

 Wells Williams, and by him sent to me in the year 1858. 



" J. D. D." 



Dr. Williams, when speaking of this matter in New 

 Haven, added that the Chinese were very fond of pictures, 

 and that the atlas of plates had doubtless been scattered 

 among them. The above statement was written from 

 his dictation. 



Vigorous protests were made against the methods 

 of publication adopted by the government. With un- 

 wonted warmth Dana was persistent ; Gray came to his 

 support, and the American Academy in Boston, the 

 Connecticut Academy in New Haven, and other influen- 

 tial societies combined in efforts to modify the conclusions 

 that were reached by Congress ; but all this met with but 

 partial success. The scientific men protested not only 



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