In regard to this matter of geological surveys, I can hardly avoid making a suggestion here.  So large a portion of our country has now been examined, more or less thoroughly, by the several State governments, that it does seem to me the time has come when the National government should order a survey—­geological, zoological, and botanical—­of the whole country, on such a liberal and thorough plan as the surveys in Great Britain are now conducted; in the latter country it being understood that at least thirty years will be occupied in the work.  Could not the distinguished New York statesman who was to have addressed us to-day be induced, when the present great struggle in which he is engaged shall have been brought to a close, by a merciful Providence, to introduce this subject, and urge it upon Congress?  And would it not be appropriate for the American Association for the Advancement of Science to throw a petition before the government for such an object?  Or might it not, with the consent of the eminent gentleman who has charge of the Coast Survey, be connected therewith, as it is with the Ordnance Survey in Great Britain.

The history of the American Association was then given:—­

Prof.  Mather, I believe, through Prof.  Emmons, first suggested to the New-York Board of Geologists in November, 1838, in a letter proposing a number of points for their consideration.  I quote from him the following paragraph relating to the meeting.  As to the credit he has here given me of having personally suggested the subject, I can say only that I had been in the habit for several years of making this meeting of scientific men a sort of hobby in my correspondence with such.  Whether others did the same, I did not then, and do not now know.  Were this the proper place, I could go more into detail on this point; but I will merely quote Prof.  Mather’s language to the Board:—­

       * * * * “Would it not be well to suggest the propriety of a
     meeting of Geologists and other scientific men of our country at
     some central point next fall,—­say at New-York or Philadelphia? 
     There are many questions in our Geology that will receive new
     light from friendly discussion and the combined observations of
     various individuals who have noted them in different parts of our
     country.  Such a meeting has been suggested by Prof.  Hitchcock;
     and to me it seems desirable.  It would undoubtedly be an
     advantage not only to science but to the several surveys that are
     now in progress and that may in future be authorized.  It would
     tend to make known our scientific men to each other personally,
     give them more confidence in each other, and cause them to
     concentrate their observation on those questions that are of
     interest in either a scientific or economical point of view.  More
     questions may be satisfactorily settled in a day by oral
     discussion in such a body, than a year by writing and
     publication."[A]