358 Geological Survey. 
or girl, who have sucked as I have, and are analogous te 
the signs of the deaf mute for brother and iste) though 
somewhat different. _ aii eel 
In the two excellent volumes. 2 bryelas entitled, 
“« Long’s expedition to the Rocky Mountains,” compiled by: 
Dr. Edwin James, one of the party, is found a collection of 
150 or more words defined by signs, as used by the In- 
dians. Ihave selected some of these for comment and. 
comparison with the signs of the deaf and dumb. There. 
are others that are natural and expressive, but | shall not 
go into any further examination at present, presuming that, 
you have had enough of the subject for this evening. As, 
however, | intended to enter into the subject of sign. lan= 
guage in general, the remarks elicited by the (Preep ins must 
be reserved for a future occasion. ; 
Se 
Anr. XXXII.—Wotice of a Geological and Agricultural 
Survey of the district adjoining the Erie Canal, 1n the 
State of .New-York—taken under the direction of the 
Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer. Part I. By Amos 
Eaton. RE 
Tne fame of the great Canal, in the State of New-York,. 
and of the distinguished individual to whom, more than te 
any other man, it owes its existence, have gone forth 
throughout the civilized world. While the, friends of 
the internal commerce and improvement of the United 
States are rejoicing in the prospect (no longer problemati- 
cal,) of the inexhaustible stream of wealth which will soon. 
flow through one of the most magnificent channels that has ey- 
er been opened by man, the friends of liberty in every coun-. 
iry, are equally gratified, by the proof, thus exhibited, that 
that energy of free Institutions is able to execute enterprizes 
which have heretofore been considered as the peculiar 
achievements of arbitrary power. . 
Scientific undertakings are, usually, of a later date than 
those which relate to commerce and the arts. It would 
therefore have hardly been expected, that almost as soon 
as it was ascertained that the Erie canal would be success- — 
fully prosecuted, a project should be set on foot to execute 
a great survey of the country through which it passes, for 
