Miscellanies. 199 



27. Specimens of Minerals and Rocks. 

 To the Editors of the American Journal of Science, &c. 

 Gentlemen, — You will recollect that in Vol. xvii of your Journal, I 

 gave some account of the extensive establishment at Heidelberg in Ger- 

 many, for the sale of specimens of minerals and rocks, having lately re- 

 ceived a box myself As I have within a few weeks received one thou- 

 sand two hundred specimens from that institution for Amherst College, 

 I take the liberty again to call the attention of your readers to that estab- 

 lishment, in the belief that specimens can be obtained there at a cheaper 

 rate than almost any where else, and yet of the best quality, and put up 

 in the neatest manner. By turning to Vol. xvii of your Journal, your 

 readers will see that a great variety of collections in crystallography, pre- 

 cious stones, mineralogy, and geology, are put up at this institution. As 

 I have given in that place so full an account of these collections and their 

 prices, I shall now speak only of those v/hich I have recently received. 



1. A geognostic collection of six liundred specimens, presents all the 

 important varieties of known rocks, with many of their characteristic 

 petrifactions. The specimens are three inches by four, and trimmed in 

 the neatest manner, with labels in German, French, and English, and ar- 

 ranged according to the system of Prof. Leonhard. It is so complete a 

 collection, as to leave one little to desire in respect to the rocks of conti- 

 nental Europe. Price $92. 



2. A smaller collection of two hundred specimens, very similar to the 

 above. Price |23. 



3. A collection in economical geology, or the useful rocks and miner- 

 als, three hundred specimens. Price |32. This is an admirable collec- 

 tion, embracing all the principal ores, several of the precious stones, 

 (some of which are polished,) and the common rocks useful in a pecu- 

 niary point of view. 



4. A collection of precious stones. This consists of fifty different sorts, 

 and more than three times that number of specimens, from the diamond 

 downwards. More than half are cut and polished. Price $28. They 

 are very neatly put up. 



I received also three slabs containing the tracks in relief of Chirothe- 

 rium, from Hildburghausen, in Saxony. But it is doubtful whether this 

 institution can furnish many more of these, as they have become very 

 scarce and expensive. 



The above collections were put up in so excellent a manner, that scarce- 

 ly a single specimen was injured. It appears to me that many public in- 

 stitutions in our country would be glad to obtain such collections as the 

 above. They are exactly fitted for public instruction. 



Allow me to say a few words on the mode of procuring collections from 

 Heidelberg. If any one wishes to make enquiries, let him direct a letter 



