XU PREFACE. 



members. This again excited an interest in others, who in their turn made 

 large additions to the collection. 



In 1823, an institution similar to that at New- York was incorporated at Albany, 

 under the name of the " Albany Lyceum of Natural History." By a subsequent 

 arrangement between this body and the Society for the Promotion of Useful 

 Arts, articles of association were agreed upon, and the result was the forma- 

 tion of the "Albany Institute," in 1829. From that time to the present, this 

 society has constantly, though in an unobtrusive manner, been engaged in deve- 

 loping the natural resources of New- York. The extensive and well arranged 

 cabinet of minerals in the Hall of the Albany Academy, the use of which, with 

 characteristic liberality, was granted to the Institute by the Trustees, affords 

 sufficient evidence of the industry and perseverance of its members. This ca- 

 binet is particularly rich in regard to the mineralogy of New- York ; and from 

 its location at the seat of government, it has probably done much to awaken the 

 interest which is now evinced on this subject in various parts of the State. 



This institution was selected as the depository of all the specimens which were 

 collected in the early geological surveys conducted under the patronage of the 

 late Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer. A liberal donation was also made to it by 

 William Caldwell, Esq., to be devoted exclusively to the purchase of books on 

 Mineralogy, and thus the library was furnished with almost every important 

 work on that branch of science. I am indebted to this valuable collection for the 

 opportunity of consulting several volumes, which I should not otherwise have 

 found it easy to obtain. 



Societies similar to that just noticed, were formed in several other cities and 

 villages of the State, and their attention was chiefly directed to the developm.ent 

 of the mineral resources of the districts in which they were located. 



From the period when the geological surveys were commenced, the progress 

 of mineralogy has been in a measure identified with that of geology. Its im- 

 portance has always been duly appreciated, and the advance of the one must 

 hereafter keep pace with that of the other. 



