Appendix. — Geological Specimens and Surveys. 207 



uable minerals, besides exhibiting the various organized beings indige- 

 nous to the soil. There is no such collection in the world, and it would 

 be an honor to America to take the lead of Europe in effecting this 

 object. The utility of a collection of this kind, must be obvious to 

 every intelligent person who reflects on the subject. Whoever is 

 interested in any particular district of country, would be thus ena- 

 bled to study its products in a well arranged cabinet, where he might 

 learn the names and properties of all the valuable natural substances 

 which that section presented. Should any one, for instance, ima- 

 gine he had discovered indications of coal on his estate, he would 

 be enabled to satisfy himself on the subject by comparison of his 

 specimens with those of the well known coal fields of Pennsylvania, 

 Virginia, or Ohio, and thus be directed in his researches ; while, if 

 he found he was in error, it might save him much time that would 

 have been lost in vain search, and great expense in mining opera- 

 tions would have been prevented. The probable value of a metal- 

 lic ore might also be estimated, by comparing it M'ith specimens from 

 well known localities where such ores are wrought. Those who 

 visited the cabinet, would also learn to distinguish the various ob- 

 jects of value in the arts, and would be enabled to add to our stock 

 of knowledge by these observations. 



I have no doubt, that an institution of the kind I have mentioned, 

 would prove a most valuable acquisition to every state, and would 

 furnish employment to young persons who would desire to learn the 

 natural history of their country, instead of wasting their time in friv- 

 olous pursuits. 



Such an institution would favor the growth of science ; and I may 

 safely add, that the morality of our country would be very much im- 

 proved by the diversion of young and ardent minds, from idle or 

 vicious amusements, to sohd and useful learning. 



I know from observation, that since the museum of the Boston 

 Society of Natural History has been opened, freely to the public 

 one day in the week, young persons throng to the cabinet for instruc- 

 tion and amusement ; and that many a germ of science has begun 

 to unfold itself in their minds, the fruits of which no man can cal- 

 culate. 



Can any one doubt, that such pursuits are in the highest degree 

 salutary ; or, that a knowledge of the works of God, showing wis- 

 dom and benevolence in their design, can fail to improve the morality 

 of mankind? For my part, I have no doubt of the good influences 

 thus exerted. 



