Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-10-30

tons so inadequate, services so ellic lent
and valuable. | am inclined to think
that Justice to those engaged in the survey
as well as to the survey itself, demands
some addition to the appropriation, for the
service Of the remaining two years,
The Geologlst will hereafter report to
me, as the law makes it his duty to do, an
estimate Tor the expenses of the next year
which | will transmit for the consideration
Of the General Assembly.
The law authorizing the survey, makes
no provision for preserving suits of speci-
mems for. any purpose, The preservation
OF a sui: to form State cabinet, being
however, obviously indispensable, | have
given orders to the GeoIigist to that effect.
| have received formal applications for
suits of specimens, from Middlebury Col
Iege, from the Medical Colleges at Wood
stock and CastIeton, and from Troy Con-
ference Academy at .PouItdey. The OBJ
vious Importance OF having collections OF
specimens illustrating the geology and
mnerology Of the State, to form cabinets
in the institutions, as well as in the YER
mont and Norwich Universities, has Undue
ed me, though without authority of law, to
direct the GeoIogisl to make his collection
sufficiently large, 10 enable him to furnish
complete sets to all these inslitutons;- in
regard to which confidently anticipate the
sanction of the General Assembly, in the
small additional appropriation which may
be necessary to meet this additional eS-
pensc
am happy to say that deep and gen,
eraI interest has been manifested by the
people, in the survey as it has progressed
which, it Is hoped, may be regarded as an
earnes, of what is to be expected through
its entire course. The science Of geology
though possessing high practical interest,
but little understood by the mass of the
people, regard it, therefore, as not a.
mong the least important benefits of the
survey, which the Iiberalty ofthe General
Assembly has authorized, that it will awak-
en- among all classes more general inter-
est in the science, and have the effect of
directing the active minds Of our people
especially the young ofbo:h seXes---lo lis
slndy-a study so well adapted to disci-
plln, expand and elevate the mind, while it
goes forth to investigate and admire the
useful and mysterious, the beautiful and
sublime of the Creators works.
By resolution ofthe General Assem-
| ly, passed at the last session, it was made
the duty Of the Governor to request the
delivery by the General Government, of
'the four brass cannon, taken by the
Green Mountain Boys, from the British at
Bennington, on the 18th ofAugnst III, "
and to cause the same when received, to
he deposited in the State House. In
obedience to the requirement of this reso-
luton, | addressed the Secretary of w ar
on the 2lst Of January last, requesting
the delivery Of the cannon. To this re-
ceived reply dated, the 20th Of Februa-
ry, saying that, "should the guns referred
to, be found in the possession Of the other
trophies of war of the revolution, and are
held as public property Of the United
States;" and suggesting an application to
Congress for an order for their delivery.
In replya subsequent communication
from me, asking that an enquiry might be
made, for the purpose of asccrtaining the
number of cannon taken at Bennington,
then III the possession Of the United States
and their LOCATION, | received Il letter
from the Secretary Of War, covering the
report from the Ordnance department, by
which it appeared that there were, at the
United States arsenal at Washington two
brass guns, reported as three Founders
and marked taken from the Germans at
Bennington, August l6, ms" and that
"no other trophies captured on that occa-
sion, are known TO be in the possession
of the government" Copies of this COR
respondence, numbered from to in
elusive, are herewith communicated to
each branch of the General Assembly.
An application to Congress being thus
rendered necessary, | recommended such
lurthur action as shall be deemed ap-
propriate to affect the application, and
render it available.
The necessity gilmore effectual provis-
ion for preventing the evils resulting from
the practice Of taking unlawful interest,
induces me again to invite to it the atten.
ton of the General Assembly.
Our laws have long prohibited the tax,
ing of interest above the rate of six pei