280 



printed in the Historical Collections of the Essex Institute. 

 (See vol. V. page 255.) 



H. Wheatland, the Secretary, next read a list of the 

 minerals found on the Neck by the researches of some of 

 the young mineralogists of the Society. It appears that, a 

 few years ago, a beautiful blue mineral Vas discovered in a 

 quarry near Fort Lee, which was at first called cancrinite, 

 but when analyzed was found to be sodalite. It was then 

 thought to be exhausted, but subsequent and quite recent in- 

 vestigations have followed the vein in deeper and some very 

 good specimens have been obtained. The sodalite is found 

 in veins of elo3olite, which is itself rare in this country, it 

 being known only in Arkansas. It has been found with so- 

 dalite and cancrinite at Litchfield, Me., but is believed to be 

 now exhausted. Last fall a large vein of eloeolite was dis- 

 covered near the other but it has not yet been found to con- 

 tain any sodalite. The following minerals, in small quanti- 

 ties, have been extracted from these veins, viz.: zircons, 

 white iron pyrites, black mica in crystals, hornblende crys- 

 tals, magnetic oxide of iron, small seams of opal, and per- 

 haps, fluor spar and molybdenite. 



Rev. Stillman Baeden of Rockport spoke very eloquently 

 upon his favorite subject, and remarked upon the rarity of 

 some of the minerals named. He urged the importance of 

 having our eyes open and of learning more of the wonders of 

 nature immediately about us. One of his friends, he said, 

 had written a charming book of Science, entitled " A Walk 

 in my Garden." He did not need to go even so far 

 as his garden ; on his own doorstep he found deep 

 themes for study and contemplation. He felt grateful to God 

 every day that He has provided so many beautiful things to 

 look upon, investigate and enjoy. He complained that sci- 

 entific collections were not thrown open with sufficient lib- 



