176 
INTRODUCTION. 
The want of coal, however, is compensated by the discovery of rich deposits of 
salt, lime, marl, peat and gypsum, and of plumbago, copper, zinc, lead and iron. 
The field within which economical science has recently pursued its investigations, 
with results so well calculated to exalt our sentiments of wonder, gratitude and 
devout veneration, and so propitious to the future welfare and happiness of our 
race, is greatly enlarged, and many obstructions to those investigations are re¬ 
moved. Although thus far the survey has resulted only in adding accumulations 
to the mass of facts already accpiired, yet even that is no unworthy contribution 
to human knowledge ; and it may be hoped that a spirit of inquiry has been sti¬ 
mulated, which will not rest content until that philosophical classification of facts 
shall be made, which is necessary to enable us to read with accuracy the impe¬ 
rishable pages on which the physical history of the earth is written. What 
new light the discoveries, thus to be made in cosmogony, will throw upon the 
designs of the Creator and the destiny of our race, cannot now be conjectured ; 
but it is enough to stimulate and reward our highest efforts, to know that while 
the range of research is infinite, the human mind is perpetually progressive. 
In submitting to the people of New-York the results of the scientific survey, 
conducted under their patronage, it has been thought proper and even necessary 
to record the incidents connected with the origin and progress of that enterprise; 
and since it is a national characteristic to be careless in regard to the preservation 
of memorials of our social progress, the occasion has been deemed a proper one for 
collecting from various sources some facts, which might illustrate the advance of 
civilization and refinement within our limits. The review which has been taken of 
that progress, comprehends a geographical and political description of the state; 
a sketch of the history of education, of the system of public instruction in colleges, 
academies and common schools, and of the foundation and endowment of libra¬ 
ries ; a history of the press; a notice of the theological profession, with a sketch 
of theological learning; an account of medical science and the medical pro- 
