137 



The chemist appointed by Sir William, early in the work, was the 

 Count de Eothermimd, a student of the Ecole Polytechnique, Paris. 

 His connection with the official staff was, however, but brief. There 

 appeared to be a lack of ability to grapple with the difficulties 

 presented, or a lack of fitness for the position, which resulted in 

 his voluntary retirement in 1846. The vacancy thus caused was 

 speedily filled by the appointment of Dr. T. Sterry Hunt, who at 

 that date was acting as chemist of the Geological Survey of Vermont. 

 This appointment was a particularly happy one, and for nearly twenty- 

 five years, in his capacity as chemist and mineralogist, Hunt built up, 

 not only for himself, but for the Canadian Survey a reputation which 

 is world-wide. 



With the exception of the department of paleontology, the Survey 

 was then comparatively well equipped and ready to carry on in a satis- 

 factory manner the purposes for which it was established. Although 

 the staff was small, the material was of the best, and exploration went 

 forward at a rapid pace. In 1847, Mr. James Richardson was iidded, 

 and, in course of over thirty years' work, examined many portions of 

 the Dominion fi-om the Straits of Belle Isle to the distant Island of 

 Vancouver and Queen Charlotte's Sound on the confines of Alaska. 

 Other persons were added from time to time, as the necessities of the 

 Survey demanded or the funds at its disposal permitted. In the branch 

 of paleontology it was, however, foimd necessai-y for some years to 

 send abroad for determination many ot the valuable specimens, which 

 were rapidly accumulating j and among those who particularly rendered 

 assistance in this way may be mentioned Prof. James HalL of Albany, 

 N. Y., and Messrs. Salter and Jones, of the English Survey. This diffi- 

 culty was at length overcome by the appointment, in 1856, of Mr. E. 

 Billings, a former resident of this city, whose love for scientific work in 

 this line was such as to lead him to lay aside his chosen profession of 

 the law, and, at the request of Sir William, to attach himself to his 

 small but zealous band of workers. Of him, also, it may be truly said 

 that much of the great reputation the Survey has acquired, both at 

 home and abroad, is due to his indefatigable labours. The appointment 

 of Mr. Robert Barlow, formerly of the Royal Engineers, as chief 

 draughtsman shortly after, completed the official equipment of the staff 



