302 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1904. 



has not been permitted to have a single subscriber in New Haven, the 

 pretended seat of an American Geological Society," is his fierce plaint 

 in the ninth issue." 



Featherstonhaugh was a man of English birth and some means, who 

 came to America when quite young apparently merely through love of 



« Featherstonhaugh' s efforts seem to have been better appreciated abroad than at 

 home, if we may judge from the following: 



The editor lays before his readers, with a just pride and entire satisfaction, the 

 following communication from the president of the Geological Society of London, 

 and other distinguished naturalists: 



London, June 18, 1831. 

 My Dear Sir: We, your undersigned friends in England, are happy to learn that 

 you propose to establish a new periodical work in the United States, which, in 

 embracing all subjects connected with the natural history of America, is to be 

 specially devoted to the accumulation of geological facts and phenomena. 



Knowing your zeal and ability, we have great hopes that a work so directed will 

 meet with every encouragement in your country, and we are certain that it can not 

 but be of service to the cause of science in general. 



We shall at all times be desirous of aiding you with any communication in our 

 power, and we subscribe ourselves, 

 Yours, very faithfully, 



Roderick Impey Murchison, 



President of the Geological Society of London. 



Davies Gilbert, 



1 'ice- President Royal Society. 



W. D. Conybeare, F. R. S., F. G. S., etc. 

 A. Sedgwick, F. R. S., F. G. S., etc., 



Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. 

 Wm. Buckland, D. D., F. R. S., etc., 



Christ Church College, Oxford. 

 George Bellas Greenough, F. R. S., etc. 

 Charles Stokes, F. R. S., etc. 



P. S. — I can not refrain, in particular, on my own part, from expressing the desire 

 which I feel for the appearance of the proposed publication, as likely to conduce in 

 the most important points to the effective progress of geology; to ascertain in detail 

 the suite of formations, and the series of organic remains distinguishing them in a 

 new continent, so widely separated from the old, and embracing such a range of vari- 

 ous climate. So to compare the phenomena with those of Europe has ever appeared 

 to me the most material desideratum in geology, for we may be sure that any analo- 

 gies which are common to localities geographically so distant, and placed under 

 physical conditions so distinct, are, in truth, analogies belonging generally to the 

 whole globe; and thus we shall obtain data adequate for the foundation of a general 

 geological theory. 



Well acquainted with the attention you have paid to the formations on this side of 

 the Atlantic, I am convinced that the execution of this task can not fall into more 



competent hands. 



W. D. Conybeare. 

 G. W. Featherstonhaugh, Esq., Philadelphia. 



