PREFACE. 



with a hammer, and every eye with a microscope." The late Hon. Samuel M. 

 Hopkins, and George J. Warner, Esq., were among the most active members of 

 this society. 



That the interest in the science continued to increase, is evinced by the papers 

 which are to be found in several succeeding volumes of the Medical Repository. 

 Among these, I "may notice " Observations on the Natural History of the Village 

 of Kinderhook, by the Rev. David Warden ;" " Mineralogical Description of 

 the Country near the Walkill and the Shawangunk Mountains in New-York, by 

 Samuel Akerly ;" "Descriptions of fluate of lime and oxide of manganese, in the 

 State of New- York, and Mineralogical notices of Onondaga, N. Y." 



In 1810 was commenced, in the city of New- York, the " American Minera- 



• logical Journal," by Archibald Bruce, M. D. This work was continued until 



1814, and it contributed greatly to advance the cause of Mineralogy in the 



United States. It contains papers on the mineral productions of New- York, by 



Drs. Mitchill, Bruce, Akerly and Arnell, and by Mr. J. Griscom. 



" The Societ}' for the Promotion of Agriculture, Arts and Manufactures," 

 incorporated in 1793, and whose charter expired by the limitation contained in 

 the act, was revived in 1804, under the name of the " Society for the Promotion 

 of Useful Arts." This Society has published four volumes of Transactions. 

 The first of these contains " A Memoir on the Onondaga Salt Springs and Salt 

 Manufactories in the State of New- York, by Benjamin De Witt, M. D." This 

 is, so far as I am informed, the earliest scientific account of these valuable springs, 

 and is a remarkable paper for the time at which it was written. It is well 

 worthy of being consulted even at the present day. 



Although the object of this society, as expressed in its title, was chiefly the 

 promotion of agriculture and the arts, mineralogy was by no means neglected. 

 Being provided with rooms in the Capitol at Albany, they were advantageously 

 situated for the collection of specimens from various parts of the State. A mine- 

 ralogical cabinet was at length commenced, and through the zeal and activity of 

 some of the members, it was placed on what at that day should be considered a 

 respectable footing. 



