Xll 
PREFACE. 
members. This again excited an interest in others, who in their turn made 
large additions to the collection. 
In 1823, an institution similar to that at New-York was incorporated at Albany, 
under the name of the “ Albany Lyceum of Natural History.” By a subsequent 
arrangement between this body and the Society for the Promotion of Useful 
Arts, articles of association were agreed upon, and the result was the forma¬ 
tion of the “Albany Institute,” in 1829. From that time to the present, this 
society has constantly, though in an unobtrusive manner, been engaged in deve¬ 
loping the natural resources of New-York. The extensive and well arranged 
cabinet of minerals in the Hall of the Albany Academy, the use of which, with 
characteristic liberality, was granted to the Institute by the Trustees, affords 
sufficient evidence of the industry and perseverance of its members. This ca¬ 
binet is particularly rich in regard to the mineralogy of New-York; and from 
its location at the seat of government, it has probably done much to awaken the 
interest which is now evinced on this subject in various parts of the State. 
This institution was selected as the depository of all the specimens which were 
collected in the early geological surveys conducted under the patronage of the 
late Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer. A liberal donation was also made to it by 
William Caldwell, Esq., to be devoted exclusively to the purchase of books on 
Mineralogy, and thus the library was furnished with almost every important 
work on that branch of science. I am indebted to this valuable collection for the 
opportunity of consulting several volumes, which I should not otherwise have 
found it easy to obtain. 
Societies similar to that just noticed, were formed in several other cities and 
villages of the State, and their attention was chiefly directed to the development 
of the mineral resources of the districts in which they were located. 
From the period when the geological surveys were commenced, the progress 
of mineralogy has been in a measure identified with that of geology. Its im¬ 
portance has always been duly appreciated, and the advance of the one must 
hereafter keep pace with that of the other. 
