TO 
BENJAMIN SILLIMAN, LL.D., 
PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY, AND GEOLOGT, 
IN YALE COLLEGE : 
WHOSE ENLIGHTENED ZEAL AND ^PERSEVERING 
LABOURS 
HAVE LARGELY CONTRIBUTED 
TO DEVELOPE THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF 
OUR country; 
TO ELEVATE THE CHARACTER, 
AMELIORATE THE CONDITION, 
AND 
INCREASE THE HAPPINESS, 
OF THE 
AMERICAN P E O P L E , 
THESE PAGES 
ARE MOST RESPECT'FUL>LY INSCEIBED. 
