316 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 5 



almost entirely obtained 1 heir knowledge of it, in 

 foreign countrief:. The number of such, orcour.'=e, 

 is very limited, and totally inadequate to the de- 

 mand. The meeting therefore was fnJIy impressed 

 with the high importance, to the pubhc, oC provi- 

 ding ample instruction, by the immediate estab- 

 lishment of a school of chemical analysis,assaying 

 of metals, and all those operations whicJi are con- 

 cerned in the determination of the value of mine- 

 rals and ores. 



The prospects of encouragement for such a 

 school are not small, because its utility is apparent. 

 With the more opulent classes, the acquisition of 

 these arts would besou^^ht, for purposes of private 

 benefit, and those who might wish to pursue them 

 as a profession, would be induced by the certain- 

 ty of a very lucrative occupation. In all parts of 

 the United States, there are abundant openings for 

 the enterprise of men who are thoroughly ac- 

 quainted with mineralogy and chemical analysis, 

 and at present, from the Atlantic to be^'ond the 

 Mississippi, they would meet with no kind of com- 

 petition ; an assertion that can be made of no other 

 profession. The public benefit too, which must 

 accrue from the general pursuit of these investiga- 

 tions as a livelihood, will far exceed that which re- 

 sults fi'om labors of a few solitary scientific men, 

 who carry Ihera on, only as a transient occupa- 

 tion. In other countries, they have been of im- 

 mense benefit, and scientific chemists of the high- 

 est reputation, have been brought up in these in- 

 stitutions. And, if these things have happen- 

 ed in Sweden and Germany and other parts of 

 JEurope. where these schools have been publicly 

 encouraged, and the mineral resources of those 

 countries thus conducted in a flourishing and pro- 

 fitable manner, why should not the same happen 

 in America? 



It is hoped by the establishment of a school in 

 which all subjects in any manner connected with 

 mineralogy are taught, and especially practical in- 

 struction afforded in chemical analysis, that ar- 

 rangements might shortly be made, for a system- 

 atical analysis of the Virginia minerals. Gentle- 

 men residing at a distance, and finding specimens 

 on their estates, might have authentic ini^irmalion 

 of their composition, furnished from the labors of 

 the pupils of this school. 



With reference to the pupils themselves, no one, 

 of course, without some previous knowledge of the 

 general principles of scientific chemistry, vvouldbe 

 able to commence in this department. Graduates 

 of respectable colleges, and those who had attend- 

 ed full courses of lectures, would find their ac- 

 quirements, in this particular, sufficient as a com- 

 mencement. To make provision, how^ever, for 

 such as might be desirous of entering the school 

 without any previous preparation, suitable ar- 

 rangements could be made, by which that amount 

 of preliminary knowledge might be acquired at 

 Hampden Sidney College. 



To that extensive portion of the community en- 

 gaged in agricultural operations, the establish- 

 ment of a school of this kind, holds out many 

 advantages. The planter and farmer, fi-om the 

 nature of their daily pursuits, have abundant op- 

 portunities of acquiring a very intimate local ac- 

 quaintance with the rarer minerals, on their own 

 estates as well as those of more common occur- 

 rence. To instruct such, m the mode of ascer- 

 taining the composition and value of such speci- 1 



mens, is to give ihem a source, not only of pleasant 



recreation, but also, occasionally, of pecuniary 

 profit. 



Being impressed with the importance of this 

 subject, the meeting proceeded to organize itself 

 into a society, to be known by the name and title 

 of the JMineralogical Society of Virjxinia. A con- 

 stitution was adopted, and the following gentlemen 

 elected officers: — Richard N. Venable, Esq. Pres- 

 ident ; Dr. W. B. Smith, Vice President, and 

 W. S. Morton, Secretary. 



The Society then proceeded to engage the ser- 

 vices of John W. Draper M. D. as its chemist 

 and mineralogist, an appointment deriving advan- 

 tage from his knowledge of the geology and min- 

 ing operation of South America. As a very high 

 assurance of his acquaintance with analytical 

 chemistry, the following note is subjoined from the 

 celebrated Dr. Turner, Professor of Chemistry in 

 the University of London, and author of the work 

 which is so extensively used as a text book on 

 chemistry, in most of the universities and col- 

 leges of "the United States. 



"I hereby attest that Mr. Draper assiduously 

 attended a complete course of my lectures on 

 Chemistry in this University during the years 

 1830—31, and at the close of the session gave de- 

 cisive proof of the success of his exertions, by 

 obtaining a high certificate of honors, af'er a full 

 examination in writing. 1 know that lie has like- 

 wise pursued the practical parts of chemistry, by 

 private study, and that he is well qualified for any 

 situation connected with the practical ajjplications 

 of chemistrv." 



B. Turner F. 11 S. Lon. & Edin. 

 Professor of Chemistry. 



(University of London.) 



The Society's chemist was then directed to pi'o- 

 ceed at once with the organization of the school; 

 and at an early opportunity, to announce to the 

 public, the particulars. 



In reference to the foregoing, we the undersign- 

 ed, fully and heartily agreeing in the object and 

 determination of this society, rec&mmend it to the 

 cordial encouragement of our fellow citizens. 

 D. S. Carroll, Noble Snell, 



Geo. H. Matthews, Saml. C. Anderson, 

 Wm. A. Hughes, James Madison, 

 Thos. S. Flournoy, Saml. Branch, 

 Chs. Smith, Geo. A. Baxter, 



F. N. Watkins, Stephen Taylor, 



Wm. I. B. Bedford, W. Berkeley, 

 Saml. R. Simpson, Henry N. Watkins. 



[The design set forth in the preceding article is 

 highly worthy of coininendation — and we earnestly 

 hope that its results may be profitable, as they certain- 

 ly will honorable, to the individuals to vvliose public 

 spirit and intelligence the execution of the plan will be 

 due. For several reasons, there is no region of Vir- 

 ginia, which offers more suitable ground and facilities 

 for these efforts, than the county of Prince Edward. 

 One most important object, and which offers every 

 prospect of success, is a proper search for coal. A 

 thin seam near the surface has already been found — and 

 as this region certainly overlies part of the great coal 

 formation, there is every reason to hope that borings 

 sufficiently deep may reach a scam of much greater 



