STATE OF NEW-YORK. 
No. 172. 
IN ASSEMBLY, 
March 23, 1846. 
REPORT 
Of the Select Committee in relation to the Natural His- 
tory of the State. 
Mr. C. Drake, from the select committee appointed under the fol- 
lowing resolution, viz : 
''Resolved, That a select committee of three members of this House 
he appointed to examine the practicability of furnishing a large edition 
of the Natural History of this State, at such a price as will enable all 
who choose ^to possess themselves of the work, and at as cheap rates 
as other scientific works are now obtained, upon the condition of the 
State granting the copyright to said publishers." 
REPORTS : 
That the committee have examined the subject embraced in the 
resolution, with due care and deliberation. Your committee were 
fully aware of the delicate nature of the subject entrusted to their 
care, one that has already subjected the State of New- York to the 
payment of large sums of money, which, in itself, is a sufficient rea- 
son for some persons to oppose any action, however advantageous it 
may be to the cause of science, or the developement of the actual 
mineral wealth and resources of our extended territory, giving us, 
not only a knowledge of what advantages we do possess, but also 
making known to us what we are destitute of, thus preventing us 
from engaging in the search of supposed hidden mineral wealth, which 
geological truths demonstrate does not exist. 
[Assembly, No. 172.1 i ^ -j 
