160 Ohiluary notice of the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer. 



For a notice of the great geological survey on the Erie Canal, we 

 have already referred our readers to Mr. Eaton's own paper in the 

 present number of the Journal, and we are pleased to observe, that 

 his authority is respected by the present State geologists. It is in- 

 dicative of the public spirit of Gen. Van Rensselaer, that when an 

 anonymous writer in the North American Review, questioned the 

 accuracy of the survey, he stated that he was willing, if the work 

 had not been done correctly, to take a re-survey of the geology 

 of our State as before, at his own expense.* The State Legisla- 

 ture might well have authorized him to fill up the chasms in his 

 surveys, which farther discoveries among organized remains re- 

 quired. It is stated to us, that all the State surveyors have found 

 Mr. Eaton's geological map of 1830 and 1832, to be correct and 

 full, so far as respects order of superposition of strata. Geolo- 

 gical nomenclature was not then settled, (and is not yet,) but it is 

 averred, that there has not yet been any mistake discovered in 

 regard to the order of superposition. 



The following statements will illustrate the character of Gen. 

 Van Rensselaer, and will evince that economy is not parsimony, 

 and is at least in his case, found united with great liberality. 



Pie was projecting a journey with several of his children to 

 Lake Ontario, first by land to Lewiston, and then by water to 

 Ogdensburgh. From motives of economy as well as of conven- 

 ience, he declined using his own equipage, and employed a liv- 

 ery man to transport his party to Lewiston, and then to meet 

 them again at Ogdensburgh with his carriage. 



Obviously it was not the love of money which caused him to 

 consider a moderate sum ($16 in four weeks) as worth saving ; 

 but it was his habit to practice economy and to make prudent and 

 wise arrangements in order that he might set a good example to 

 his children and dependants ; that he might benefit those whom 

 he employed, and perhaps more than all, that he might have the 

 means of more enlarged liberality. It was a remarkable coinci- 

 dence, that, at the very moment while he was negociating the 

 arrangements with the livery man, two young gentlemen called 

 on him with good letters of introduction, being recommended as 

 men of piety designed for the christian ministry, and needing pe- 

 cuniary aid. He instantly filled a check for each of them for the 



* See Journal Vol. XX, pp. 419, 420. 



