6 ^ [Senate 
world. Subsequent discoveries have proved that these strata are better 
marked by their organic contents than any other series of the same age. 
These rocks, too, are for the greater part, unaltered and undisturbed? 
giving the clearest evidence of the order of succession among the 
different beds and groups, and the best opportunities for studying, in 
the order of time, the various families of organic beings that have 
successively inhabited the surface of our planet. It is not possible 
to over-estimate the advantages possessed by New-York in all these 
respects; advantages w^hich will render it necessary that our succes- 
sion of rocks be studied to obtain a key to the elucidation of rocks 
of similar age in every part of the United States and even in Europe. 
It is not too much to say that European geologists must come here, 
as some of them have done already, to study this most perfect suc- 
cession of the palaeozoic order. ^ 
Fully sensible of all these circumstances, which rendered necessary 
the enlargement of the plan of the work, I should have proved re- 
creant to my duty to the State, had I published such a volume as 
was at first contemplated, when the extent of the subject was unknown. 
In conducting this work on Palaeontology, my first and highest duty 
was to do justice to the State of New- York, as far as in my power, 
regardless of other considerations. With this motive, I have stead- 
ily urged that this publication should be carried out in a proper man- 
ner, not only in accordance with the requirements of science, but in 
accordance with the high interests and dignity of the State, which 
has already laid the foundation of a great work, and has within her 
own territory the means of illustrating important departments of sci- 
ence more fully than can be done in any other part of the world. 
Were this position of New-York fully comprehended, I cannot think 
there w^ould be the least hesitation in authorizing such work to go on 
to its completion, in such a manner as the discoveries made shall war- 
rant. All individual and personal considerations should be merged 
in the higher object of making the work of standard character, and 
one in which very citizen of the State may feel a just pride. 
If we w^ould secure the results which justly belong to the State, 
this work should be made as perfect as possible. If we would have 
♦This is fully admitted by Sir Charles Lyell, M. de Verneuil and Prof. Agassiz, 
who have each examined^our geology. 
