IS 
progressed. New discoveries are daily made, the ardour 
of scientific pursuit has extended to various countries, and 
at present it may safely be said, that no branch of learning 
has more numerous or ingenious disciples. When it is al¬ 
so recollected that chemistry forms a constituent part of the 
investigation, its dignity as a subject of research stands 
completely established. 
Such is the science which in Europe has received the 
patronage of monarchs, and the homage of genius. In this 
country it is also becoming a subject of enquiry. The Uni¬ 
ted States present a vast field for examination. Extending 
over twenty degrees of latitude, and embracing almost eve¬ 
ry climate; while the face of the country presents the various 
alternations of mountain and valley, and exhibits at once ev¬ 
ery formation from the primitive to the volcanic,f it cannot 
be doubted that at no distant day, industry and enterprise 
will enrich them with most of the minerals that Europe pro¬ 
duces. It is only necessary to attend to the history of those 
already discovered, to be further convinced of this result. 
Iron claims the highest rank both from its value and fre¬ 
quent use. Its application to domestic purposes is so vari¬ 
ous, and the forms in which it is used so diversified, that it 
is hardly possible to conceive of communities in any degree 
civilized, without their possessing some knowledge of its pro¬ 
perties. The most savage nations with whose history we are 
acquainted, appear totally ignorant of its importance.* The 
existence of iron in the present United States appears to have 
f Several facts proving the existence of a volcanic tract in Lou¬ 
isiana, are mentioned in Brackenridge’s account of the minerals 
of that country, vide American Med. and Philos. Register, vol. 
2, p. 38. Dr. Mitchill also mentions the fact with additional 
proofs, in his lectures on natural history. 
* The arms of the aborigines of North America were princi¬ 
pally formed from siliceous stones ; those of the Fegee Island¬ 
ers appear to resemble them, vide Warden’s analysis of their 
axe stones. Med. Repos, vol. 13, p. 75. “ Man” says Dr. Ro¬ 
bertson, “ was long acquainted with the other metals, before he 
acquired the art of fabricating iron, or attained such ingenuity as 
to perfect an invention, to which he is indebted for those instru¬ 
ments wherewith he subdues the earth, and commands all its 
inhabitants.” History of America, book 4th. 
