332 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



these were discovered only two minerals new to science. The Moravian mis- 

 sionaries found at St. Paul, in Labrador, the beautiful species of feldspar called 

 by Werner labrador-stein, which in more modern times we know under the name 

 oi labradorite. Klaproth, the most eminent analytical chemist of his time, dis- 

 covered that the so-called fibrous barytes from Pennsylvania was the sulphate of 

 the then newly-discovered earth strontia. He thus, for the first time, identified 

 the mineral species celestite which was subsequently found in various localities in 

 Europe. 



Although little had been accomplished in America previous to 1800, the 

 first quarter of the new century was destined to show great development here in 

 the study of mineralogy. During the early years of this quarter several collections 

 of European minerals were brought to this country by American gentlemen who 

 had availed themselves during a residence in Europe of the best opportunities 

 for acquiring a knowledge of the science from the great masters of the subject in 

 Germany and France. About this time also several colleges in the country had 

 instituted chairs of chemistry and mineralogy, and a commencement was thus 

 made in teaching these sciences in the higher schools. As the result of these 

 influences the number of persons interested in mineralogy was largely increased, 

 and an active search for minerals was initiated throughout all of the older United 

 States and to a considerable extent also in Canada. 



So energetically were these explorations followed up that in 1825 a catalogue 

 of American minerals was published by Dr. Samuel Robinson, with their locali- 

 ties arranged geographically, and giving only such as were known to exist in the 

 United States and the British Provinces. It formed an octavo volume of over 

 three hundred pages. 



That much credit was due to many workers during this period, both in the 

 field and in the laboratory, there can be no question, but among them all I find 

 four men standing forth so prominently as leaders, that I have thought it would 

 be well for us to recall briefly something of the character of these men and their 

 labors for the advancement in mineralogy in this country. These mineralogists 

 were Dr. Archibald Bruce, who was born in New York in 1777 and graduated at 

 Columbia College ; Colonel George Gibbs, of Rhode Island ; Professor Parker 

 Cleveland, of Bowdoin College, and Professor Benjamin Silliman, late Professor 

 of Chemistry, Mineralogy and Geology in Yale College. After sketching the 

 labors in this branch of science of these eminent pioneers, the lecturer went on to 

 say that it will be inferred that the developments and discoveries of minerals, 

 during the first twenty-five years of the century, were due entirely to individual 

 enthusiasm and private enterprise. Up to this time no aid had been received 

 from either State or National governments, and in looking over the work accom- 

 plished during this period we are filled with wonder and admiration at the energy 

 and rare devotion to science exhibited. The larger portion of the continent was 

 an unbroken wilderness, and the facilities of communication even in the settled 

 parts of the country were of the most primitive character. Yet at the present 



