27 



ute of 1853 requires no report to be made until " sufficient facts 

 and materials shall have been collected upon the subject of Phys- 

 ical Geography, Scientific Geology and Mineralogy of the State to 

 form a volume of not less than five hundred pages octavo," yet the 

 peculiar circumstances I have referred to and the natural and 

 laudable curiosity of the people of the State in regard to a matter 

 in which they have manifested great interest from the outset of 

 the Geological Survey, seemed to require of me a plain and un- 

 varnished statement of such facts and explanations as would satis- 

 fy all reasonable enquiries. 



In drawing this communication to an abrupt close I would, with 

 due diffidence, express a hope that this statement and the appen- 

 dix thereto may be laid before the General Assembly at your 

 early convenience if your Excellency deem it proper, with such 

 accompanying executive remarks as may secure to it a patient 

 perusal and a candid consideration. 



I have the honor to remain 



Your Excellency's obedient servant, 

 AUGUSTUS YOUNG, State Naturalist. 



ST. ALBANS VERMONT, October 10th, 1856. 



