been conspicuous in the clouds to-day. The long lines of cirrus extending to either horizon, large well defined twainclouds to leeward, and waineclouds in the intermediate region of the atmosphere, formed a character of sky contrasted to the rapid productions of rainclouds and showers which had gone on almost every day for a week before.-The barometer was stationary nearly all day, and till midnight, at 29-43.

The Journal of Augsburgh of the 8th ult has published the following observations made in the Observatory of that city:"On the 7th inst. at 42 minutes past eight in the evening, Professor Stark observed, in a serene sky, a luminons band, of a colour similar to the Milky Way, in the direction of the bead of Serpentarius, in the constellation Hercules; and which passing below the Northern Crown, and then between the tail of the Great Bear, and the head of the Little Bear, ended in the star Alpha of the Dragon. Its length was 71 degrees, and its breadth, almost every where uniform, was two apparent diameters of the Moon. This phænoruenon, which had a great resemblance to the prolongation which rapidly took place on the 13th of September 1811, in the tail of the great comet, disappeared at 58 minutes past eight. From this moment until one o'clock in the morning the Professor observ ed that the nebulous part No. 8, of the constellation of the Buckler of Sobiesky, when the luminous band had commenced, seemed to be surrounded with an aureola greater, Lane lively, and more sparking than usual.

The great spot or crevice, which appeared en the 23d of July last on the sun's disk, disappeared on the 4th of August. There were afterwards formed a great number of small spots, arranged in several groups, which Professor Stark intends to describe in a work which he proposes to publish soon.

Among the rare events of the present age, few have happened more rare, or interesting than the following.

A person who had made a considerable fortune in Philadelphia, as a butcher, went on board one of the last ships from Amsterdam, which had a number of German redemp tioners, for the purpose of purchasing one to assist him in his business. After examining the physiognomy of several of the passen gers, without being able to please himself, his attention was arrested by the tranquil and composed countenance of a man rather advanced in years, but with much appearance of strength and activity. Not less pleased with the conversation of the German than

with his exterior, he described the purpose for which he wanted a servant, and obtained the man's consent to purchase his indentures, provided he would also purchase those of his wife, who had accompanied him. The parties then went ashore to complete the business, attended by the captain; and

upon the names of the parsons being mentioned, to insert them in the writings, they were the same with those of the purchaser's father and mother; and, upon further inquiry, he ascertained them to be, in fact, his father and mother, the latter declaring, that if he was their son, he had a remarkable mole upon his left arm-which proved to be the case! It is added, that nothing could surpass the joy of all parties. The Providence of God has snatched the venerable pair from poverty and servitude, and conducted them to plenty and independence, under the protection of an effectionate son. He, it seems, had run away from his parents when quite a boy, and from the contiuual wars in Europe neither had ever heard of the other since. Raleigh Reg.

Mr. M. Nash's communication on the subject of determining the latitude and longitude of places on the land, with the mean of his observations on the latitude of the City Hall, which was received too late for insertion in this number, shall appear in our next.

We have on hand a communication from our valued correspondent, J. A. M. but do not consider it quitely suited to our columns, although we approve its tenor. We shall be happy to hear from him on any topic that falls within our range.

Democritus will perceive that we have taken as much notice of a late occurence at the Theatre as is requisite at present. We agree with him, that the managers of the play-house stand exactly on a par with the players in regard to their responsibility to the public, and shall always exercise the same freedom of animadversion in regard to them.

file, shall appear in our next. Several interesting communications on

The Mathematical Department is unavoidably omitted in this number.

Corrections in No. 6, rol. I. p. 427, where it is mentioned that Richard's Dictionary does not contain modern improvements, strike out Willdenow, Acharius and Smith, since they appear to have been consulted.

ral Humphrey. Vol. I. p. 435, for gen. Hawkins, read gene

ERRATUM.

Page 13, of this Number, for such a trick read such a truth.'

P. 27. Vol. 2. for court read cour.
P. 30. Vol. 2. for ballot read ballet.

INTRODUCTION.

MERCHANTS feel an interest in trade, poets in literature, painters In pictures, every one in the objects connected with his pursuits and labours: it is therefore very natural, that those who have devoted a share of their attention to the noble pursuits of science, should likewise feel a desire to take an occasional survey of the progress, situation, and prospects of the various branches of science, which they may have undertaken to cultivate, as well to ascertain their positive advances as their relative improvements.

Among sciences, those connected with the natural and material objects of the universe, claim of course a conspicuous rank, since they relate to every thing which we perceive, or which falls under the observations of our senses. Even the numberless arts which human ingenuity has devised, for the purpose of imitating or modifying those objects, ought to class with them; but custom separates them, while it acknowledges their intimate connexion, and absolute dependance. Natural Sciences are therefore limited to three great branches: CosMONY, or Natural History, which enables us to distinguish, describe, value, and employ the natural objects and bodies: PHYSICS, or Natural Philosophy, which teaches us their functions, laws, and phenomena: CHEMISTRY, or Natural Analysis, which decomposes and recomposes them, reaching the elements of nature. They are divided into many collateral branches, such as Astronomy, Geonomy, Botany, Zoology, Opties, Statics, &c. which are again subdivided into numberless minor branches.

In the last century these sciences were yet in their infancy in the United States, VOL. 11.-No. 11.

11

as was every thing else; but nevertheless, that first period of their cultivation was adorned by the following eminent or worthy writers, Winthrop, Franklin, Jefferson, Rittenhouse, Clayton, Bartram, Walter,

Barton, Muhlenberg, Priestley, Drs. Mitchill, Colden, Garden, Marshall, Carver, Belknap, Cutler, &c. and among the visiters or travellers, Catesby, John Mitchill, Kalm, Bose, Castiglione, Vieillot, Palissot-Beauvais, Volney, Mason, Mackenzie, Frazer, Dupratz, Charlevoix, Michaux, Schoepf, &c.-some of whom belong to both centuries, and will be noticed again hereafter.

Since 1300, a great impulse has been given to some branches of these sciences; many societies have been established for the purpose of fostering their study ; museums have been formed in many cities; professorships established to teach every branch; and, at present, a great number of young and able observers or writers begin to appear every where, who bid fair to reflect honour on themselves and their country. To encourage the disposition which is manifesting itself is the design of this review. The record of the labours of their predecessors, whilst it is a grateful tribute for past services, will tend to excite the emulation of the rising generation, and may serve to enlarge the ideas of European writers, in reference to our general and national character.

All those who pursue the noble path of natural knowledge are united by a friendly bond; although strangers, although distant, as soon as they become known to each other, either personally or by fame, they are friends: it is our object, if practicable, to strengthen those tics, not merely among ourselves, but between American and European writers.

Let no national rivalry interfere-it ought to be unknown among men of enlightened and enlarged minds: and let no mean jealousy arise among ourselves—it

ciety, under the name of School of Arts and Literature, has been established at Cincinnati, in Ohio, towards 1814; but we are unacquainted with its officers or labours: it deserves attention, however, as the first instance of such an institution in the Western States.

Several other minor societies, for auxiliary branches of natural sciences, have likewise been established at different periods; such as, the Agricultural Society of Philadelphia, of which Judge Peters is the worthy president, and which has been very active, having published two volumes of important papers: the Historical Society of New-York, which has lately assumed the subject of natural history, and formed a museum, &c.-besides some new Medical Societies, to whose lot it falls to elucidate the natural history of man; and three Botanical Societies in Utica, Philadelphia, and Boston, lately established.

The collective labours of these societies have been surpassed by the personal labours of their members, and other individuals, which we shall notice at length in the second part: but we mean to give here an account of the gradual means employed by them.

Only two small museums of natural history existed in the United States in 1800, in Philadelphia and Boston. These establishments, which increase the taste for natural beings, or even create it, when the simple survey of nature cannot inspire it, have become numerous and splendid of late; some of them begin to equal the best European museums; among which, those of Peale in Philadelphia, and Scudder in New-York, deserve particular notice for elegance of taste and abundance of objects. There are also public museums and menageries,or exhibitions of living animals, in the following cities: Boston, Salem, Baltimore, Charleston, Norfolk, Lexington, New-Haven, &c. They have all been collected by individual exertions, and the liberal patronage of the public has generally well rewarded them; in some instances legislative or municipal patronage has been extended to them, by the grant of suitable rooms, &c. Private collections are increasing every day in number and value; almost every University and College has a small museum, or a collection of minerals, shells, &c.: many gentlemen and ladies begin to delight in procuring collections, which has a general tendency to increase the taste for rational and innocent amusements. Among those private collections,

the following deserve notice, as the most rich and valuable. The mineralogical collections of Dr. Bruce in New-York, of Col. Gibbs, in the museum of the Historical Society of New-York, and of Yale College at New-Haven, &c. The conchological collections of John G. Bogert, Esq. of New-York, and of the Academy of Natural Sciences, in Philadelphia, &c. The entomological collections of Mr Say in Philadelphia, of Mr. Torrey in New-York, &c. The general collec tions of Dr. Mitchill in the University of New-York, of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, &c.

Herbariums, or collections of specimens of plants, have been made by many, but they are generally confined to American plants; the most valuable are those of the late Rev. Dr. Henry Muhlenberg, in the possession of his son, Dr. Muhlenberg of Lancaster, of Mr. Elliot of Charleston, of Mr. Collins of Philadelphia, of Dr. Eddy of New-York, of Dr. Bigelow of Boston, of Dr. W. P. C. Barton of Philadelphia, of Mr. Torrey of New-York, of Mr. Rafinesque of New-York, &c.

Botanical gardens are connected with botany, medicine, agriculture, horticulture, and become useful appendages thereto, when properly directed; but no such public gardens have been endowed as yet in the United States, upon the liberal European system. Mr. Bartram's private botanical garden was perhaps the only one in existence at the beginning of this century; since which period many similar private gardens have sprung, such as Mr. W. Hamilton's at the Woodlands, near Philadelphia, Dr. Hosack's at Elgin, near New-York, several in the vicinity of Boston, and one in Charleston, &c. The garden of Elgin has lately been purchased by the legislature of New-York, and given to the University; but it is much to be regretted, that it has meanwhile been neglected, and almost destroyed, because no able director was appointed. Several new botanical gardens are in contemplation, by subscription, in Philadelphia, New-York, and elsewhere; but unless they are liberally endowed, they will not become of permanent utility. The botanical garden at Cambridge, forms however a partial exception, and is an useful appendage of that University.

Gardens on a more moderate scale, but not less useful, are common near Charleston, Alexandria, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New-York, Boston, &c. where useful and ornamental plants, trees, and seeds are raised for sale: those of Mr.

Macmahon near Germantown, and of Mr. Prince at Flushing, &c. may be quoted as examples. The establishments more closely connected with agriculture, such as nurseries, seed-stores, &c. have also increased in proportion, among which the nursery of fruit trees of Mr. Cox, near Burlington in New-Jersey, has ranked among the most valuable.

Agriculture, the base of our real wealth, is of course attended to with unceasing care, and a few worthy individuals, such as Chancellor Livingston, Dr. Mease, Judge Peters, John Lowell, Esq. &c. have been endeavouring to study it and teach it as a science; but their attempts have generally failed, because the great mass of farmers conceive they know enough! Enlightened proprietors and farmers, are not however, willing to admit of improvements, and to allow their practice to be directed by a wise theory.

Horticulture, both practical and ornamental, is likewise become fashionable among our wealthy citizens. The cultivation of our native ornamental plants and shrubs is spreading everywhere, and exotics are not neglected; green-houses are quite common, and some hot-houses are to be found in the vicinity of every city. Extensive public libraries, on a liberal plan, had been established last century; they have gradually increased their stock of books, where valuable materials for the study of natural sciences are to be met; those of Philadelphia, Baltimore, New-York, and Boston, hold the first rank. The libraries of Hospitals, Colleges, &c. have likewise been materially and usefully increased; the libraries of Dr. Benjamin Barton, and Dr. Hosack, have been purchased by the hospitals of Philadelphia and New-York, and are exceedingly rich in rare books of natural history. Most towns, and even many villages, have established circulating or subscription libraries on improved plans; they convey useful publications into every corner of the Union. Atheneums have been formed in Boston, Philadelphia, Lexington, and elsewhere, whose object is to collect useful works, and where the literary journals of America and Europe are regularly received; as they are likewise in the Literary Rooms of Messrs. Eastburn and Co. of New-York. The Atheneum of Boston contains one of the most extensive and valuable libraries in the United States. Reading-rooms and atheneums, on a minor scale, are not uncommon throughout the Union.

Public instruction has kept pace with our rapid increase of population, which is evinced by the general increase of stu

dents, and the endowment of many new colleges and academies, particularly in the western and southern States, among which may be mentioned those of Lexington in Kentucky, of Millegeville in Georgia, of Columbia in South Carolina, &c. In all the colleges of the United States, which amount to more than forty, natural philosophy is taught; in some of them chemistry; in a few natural history.

In the Universities, all those branches have professors, often men of ability; but they are generally annexed to the schools of medicine. In the University of Cambridge, however, a distinct course of lectures on Natural Sciences, is delivered by professors in all the branches of those sciences. In the University of Pennsylvania, since the death of Dr. Benjamin Barton, a faculty of natural sciences has been established last year: this is the first instance of the kind in the United States. The following professorships were appointed and filled; of natural philosophy, of botany, of natural history, particularly zoology, of comparative anatomy, of mineralogy and chemistry applied to the arts;-those of the institutes of chemistry and materia medica, being left united with the medical faculty.

It is to be regretted that professors are sometimes appointed who have yet to learn what they are to teach: instruction will flourish with more rapidity when they shall be selected, in all instances, among the most worthy and learned candidates.

Public lectures on the most popular branches of natural sciences have been given by many private lecturers, e. g. by Mr. Correa in Philadelphia, on botany, and the natural method; by Mr. Whitlow, on demonstrations of botany, in NewYork, Philadelphia, Albany, New-Haven, Boston, &c.; by Mr. Hare, on chemistry, in Philadelphia; by Dr. Bruce, on mineralogy in New-York, &c.

Natural knowledge has been gradually diffusing itself by all these means, as well as by the individual exertions of the observers of nature, their writings and publications; among which, periodical ones are not to be reckoned the least useful. Even newspapers and literary journals have often been the vehicles of much useful knowledge on the physical and geological geography of our country, the natural history of our shores, meteors, &c.: and even those daily papers which appear to be the most hostile to knowledge and science, cannot help to convey, occasionally, valuable facts belonging to, or connected with, natural sciences. The periodical works dedicated to literature,