The short time I have acted in the capacity of state agent, has been devoted to this object. I have lost no opportunity or time in becom. ing personally acquainted with associations and their mode of operating, with ship masters, agents and ship owners, to the end that every influence may be brought to bear in this matter-with this lever the mass can be moved. The visit of the Secretary of the Belgium Legation to our state the last season, although his time for examination and acquiring infor mation was limited, still he saw enough to create in his mind impressions and opinions decidedly favorable to our soil, climate and health, and the report he is now making up, which will be transmitted to his government in due time, will do us justice as regards this matter. I saw him frequently during my stay at Washington, and furnished him with much information appertaining to our country and its advantages. He informed me that the emigration from Belgium will consist chiefly of farmers, with ample means to purchase land and capital sufficient to sustain themselves for at least one year, provided they should not reap any products from their labor during that time. 2 1846. No. 17. To His Excellency, A. FELCH, Governor of Michigan: Detroit, March 7th, 1846. SIR: In reply to your note of the 5th instant, covering a copy of the resolution of the Senate relative to the Geological, Mineralogical Zoological and Botanical department of the University of Michigan, in behalf of the executive committee of the board of regents, to whom your note is addressed, I can only state: The regents have never had in their charge and custody, any of the specimens in said departments collected for the State, except perhaps, one full suit in geology and mineralogy. These the regents have caused to be arranged, classified, properly labelled, and placed in suitable fixtures for the use of the students, and, under prescribed regulations, the inspection of visitors. The mass of these collections, have heretofore been under the exclusive control of the state geologist. The regents having cheerfully accorded to that officer the use of apartments in the university buildings, in which said collections are boxed, or otherwise stored. In collecting these specimens, I am advised it was the aim of the state geologist, as far as practicable to comply with the provisions of the act constituting that department, that is, to collect sixteen suits in each department. Of many specimens, a much larger number, even fifty or one hundred specimens, with the view to exchanges, was obtained. It is understood that there were some four thousand specimens in each of the departments, zoology and botany, when his report for the second year was made by the state geologist, and that many were afterwards added. But these reports are not in my possession; I therefore speak only from recollection. In the geological department proper, the collections are also understood to be large and numerous, requiring some fifty to eighty casks and boxes to contain them. The contents of these, or number of specimens, are unknown to the executive committee, and have ne ver probably been counted, or particularly arranged by any person. In geology, however, I am advised, every specimen is properly enclosed in paper and labelled. But in most instances, boxes embrace specimens of various kinds and localities, and are without arrangement in these particulars. To reduce all to proper order, as may readily be imagined, will require not only much time and patient investigation, but likewise an intellect imbued with the language through which nature speaks in these mysterious departments of her works. The executive committee have not been called upon by you, neither is it the province of the regents to express an opinion relative to the cost or importance of these collections to the state. It is however, matter for thanks and expression of gratitude, that the Senate have given consideration to a subject of such high importance. And the confiding hope may now be indulged, that the representatives of a people, determined to perpetuate the blessings of enlightened freedom, will not suffer these depositories of knowledge, valuable in every pursuit and condition of life, to be lost through the ravage of time, or their developments postponed until too late for the instruction and interest of those who must soon take their places upon the theatre of self government. With sentiments of the highest consideration and respect, I have the honor to be your obedient servant, J. KEARSLEY, |