Life of Zadock Thompson.—Perkins. 67 
Although busily occupied in study of natural and civil his- 
tory and in preparing his various publications, and in teaching, 
Mr. Thompson found time to study theology and in 1836 he 
was ordained deacon in the Episcopal church. On account 
of uncertain health he never settled over a parish, though he 
often preached in or near Burlington where he spent most of 
his life. 
In 1845 a geological survey was authorized by the legis- 
lature and Prof. C. B, Adams of Middlebury appointed geo- 
logist in charge. He appointed Prof. Thompson and Rev. 
S. R. Hall assistants. During the ensuing season, Prof. 
Thompson with his fellow assistant, explored a hundred and 
ten townships and were most busily occupied in the prosecu- 
tion of their work till the legislature of 1847-8 summarily put 
an end to the appropriation. The field notes, specimens and 
instruments of the survey were stored here and there for some 
months, but the next legislature ordered the scattered prop- 
erty to be collected and cared for and Prof. Thompson was 
appointed to execute the order, which he did and made a report 
of his work in 1849. No other report of the work of this 
survey was ever made as the succeeding legislature failed to 
yote necessary appropriations; and as the most important 
notes, those of Prof. Adams, were taken in a peculiar short- 
hand which only he could read, these became useless at his 
his death in 1853. In 1853 an appendix to the “History of 
Vermont” was published. This, a book of 64 pages, is main- 
ly given to natural history. 
In 1851 he was elected professor of natural history in the 
University of Vermont and about the same time some of his 
many friends, learning of his strong desire to visit the Expo- 
sition in London kindly provided the means and he spent three 
months in England and on the continent. 
After his return he published as “A Thankoffering” an ac- 
count of his tour in a volume of 143 pages. 
In 1853 an act was passed by the legislature which pro- 
vided for completing the geological survey of the state, and 
under this act Prof. Thompson, was appointed state natural- 
ist. 
Into the execution of this work he entered with enthusi- 
asm, as it afforded him the opportunity he had long eagerly 
