Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-30
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COMMUNICATED.
COMMUNICATED.
THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL AND PIIlLO-
SOPItCAi. SOCIETY.

SOPHiCAL SOCIETY.
1t source OF silcere .ratiicltirn to every
patriot AMI rhiltulhropiSt, and especially to all
who love Virg mia and her Institutions, to sec the
Old Dominion awSking from her ethargy, and
some OF her entorpriSing citizens engaging with
efficiency IN Internal improvements, and also to
her Literary nstitu' iuus huldi"g very respect
Sbie stluding. nd eNcrting powerful influence ON
the great subject of EGucation. But still there,
many subjects comnoctcd with the highest in
torcs.s OF the State, winch have as Vet received
but lttlo attention.
White other States have formed, aud arc daily
forming various associations, by which the encr-
scs oil their citizens are cUSd forth and combined
for the laud bc purpose of collecting aad prcscr-
VIM every thing relating to their history, aud de-
VeIop'nS aud applying every way practicable
their various natIral resources; Virginia, although
very rich IN materials has horct fore been too in
attentive TO these most important lecls. With
the exception OF few agricultural and other To-
cal associations, there has been society establish
od iii the State, which has had u tendency to con-
centratc the intellectual and moral energies of our
enlightened citizens, and inspire them with that ar
dor aud vigor iii the cause OF Improvement which
are most eilcciual'y produced by free interchange
OF opinions when the sparks Of truth are freq lent
ly e.icitcd by collision Of gcnius.
In order io supply III part this deficiency
number OF gentlemen from different parts OF the
State, met at the capitol in Richmond, in January
last and laid the fouudition of u society which *
called, 1.-The Virginia Historical ami Philosopher,
society," The leading objects o: this society, are
W procure ana preserve Whatever relates the
natural, civil, and literary history OF this State
and To patromsc far as practicable, all those
sciences and drtS which have direct tendency to
promote the best interests of our cilizens These
ooJocts address, themselves with peculiar force to
all who wish Virginia to hold that elevated stand
ing among hor SISTER States, to which her natural
resources, moral worth, and past achievements i'm
securing and maintaining our civil aud religious
frecdom, entitlc her.
1t will be observed that the first object of ,I,o
"ocicty, to which immediate and particular atten-
ZION 10 solicited is TO collect the materials for a
complete and authentic history of the State There
are several histories of the State cxtant I'm, il
must be admitted by all compctant Judges that
none of them contain Il complete compilation of
those facts, and correct dclincaion of those cha
racters for which Virginia Is Justly celebrated and
which ought to form by lar the richest nor
lions OF her history 1t is in vain, that we look To-
the Published records for full and correct view of
tho elevated sentiment, the noble sacrifices the
bold daring, and the unyiedng purpose for which
very many of our patriots and philant wers
distinguished during Revolutionary struggle
for liberty. Hence, under existing circumstances.
our postcriy will he deprived of a correct know !
ledge OF the deeds OF their ancestors and of
course, oil the moral Influence of their noble ex-
ample. Virginia will be inattentive to her hiphes,
INTERESTS II she neglect TO supply the deficiency.
But, in order TO accomplish this object cfectualy,
1t is necessary that all, who have the neon.
should lend their aid to the operations of the soc;
ETY.. 1t is hoped that this will be done not only
cheeruly but Immediately. Delay in this mat !
''r VIII be highly injurious. In all probability
much valuable matter, relating to past events x ,
already irrecovcrabiy lost, both by neglect and Inv
the removal by death OF nearly all those worthless
VINO, having borne distinguished part in the pub
lie and private transactions OF their times could
have communicated much important and interest,"
ing Information concerning them, which has not
been lett on recc.d. This circumstance should
eononiSh all who feel the least interest on this sub
Jcct That immediate and vigorous cxcrtions ought
TO be made to secure that which now remains hut |
will ha h,,o
reach o. recovery. Dut doubtless there are now
III the possession of descendants of those natr
otS, many highly lmportau, manuscripts and other
papers relating TO our past history, which, from
the operation of natural causes, are very liable
TO be scattered and Lost. Many OF them, insulated
as lhcy now are, will, IN most instances, be c0ns ,
dcrcd by those who possess them, to be of little or
no Importance; and, the corc, worth preserving
When viewed separately, some of them may appear
10 DO oil no value but compared with others reat-
ing The same events, they may DO of immense va
Tue In eIucidatingl obscure facts, and confirming
statements which tend TO exhibit the real causes
or effects OF great public transactions, or to de-
velope the operating motives of those individuals l.
whose pubic enterprises or private exertons and
sacrifices, had an important bearing on the great
interests of country. Without the aid of
such documents, all must admit, that the history
OF Virginia must necessarily be incorrect and de- |
fec:lve, II Is confidently believed, therefore, that
those persons possessing original documents or any
species of information relating to the past history
OF th's state, although there may be unwilling
ness TO en'ruSt them TO private individuals win |
cheertuliy coniidc them to the care of public
institution, In whose custody they would be pre-
served for the general benefit of poserty and
society at large. 1t is also believed that those
PATRIOTS OF the Revolution whose lives, by the
blesSIng OF KIND Providence, have bcca prulonT-
ed to the present time, all other pcrs ons who by
their peculiar situation in life, have obtained
minute knowledge Of important public or private
transactions connected with the State, will most
~iIliHg'y commit to writing and forward to the
society, narration of such facts as they NAV
thluk ought to be preserved for the information Of
mankind.
BY these means, many highly interesting facts
VIII be obtained, which, in all probability i'm
lew years, Will be beyond the reach of recovery;
very large number of valuable papers will be
rescued from the ohScurily of private repositories
where they liable to be DESTROYED or lost by
the operation OF incidental circumstances 1t ap.
pears mat ths is tho only practical mode by which,
oil the present time, much be effected in collect
ing together the scattered fragments and perish
ing memorials OF our past history. All such mat
ter, when collected and deposited in the State Ii.
brary, will he rich treasure to tins State and
our legislators, well as to the antiGuary The
historian, tho scholar.
Another object, which the Society has particu.
larry iii view, is 10 obtain and preserve every species
OF Information concerning the mincralogy, geology
and botany OF the different parts of the State 1t
well known, that mountains and valleys are
rich in valuable minerals and medicinal waters
and our alluvIa! country contains manV highly i'm
pOrtant chemical and mincralogcal formations-l
The best interest of the various kinds of internal
rs well as of science, would be great
~ promoted by an accurate meteorological ard geo.
logical survey of tc whole State. In this way
our citizens generally, would he able 10 ascertain
The properties and locations Of the different species
OF rocks, ores, coal, natural soils, chemical ma
nurcs, mineral waters, &c in zach ion of the