79 S THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



only such as were known to exist in the United States and the British 

 Provinces. It formed an octavo volume of over three hundred pages. 

 That much credit was due to many workers during this period, both 

 in the field and in the laboratory, there can be no question, but among 

 them all I find four men standing forth so prominently as leaders that 

 I have thought it would be well for us to recall briefly something of 

 the character of these men and their labors for the advancement of 

 mineralogy in this country. 



First among these I will mention Dr. Archibald Bruce. He was 

 the son of Dr. William Bruce, a surgeon in the British army, and was 

 born in New York in 1777. He was graduated at Columbia College ; 

 subsequently studied medicine, and in 1798 went to Edinburgh, where, 

 in 1800, he obtained his doctor's degree from that university. He 

 was early interested in natural science, and while still in college found, 

 his biographer says, " the collection and examination of minerals a 

 pursuit not then at all attended to in this country was his particular 

 relief from other studies ; for even during his recreation he was ever 

 on the lookout for something new or instructing in mineralogy." 



When he went to Europe he took with him a large number of 

 American minerals, and, through exchanges with institutions and prom- 

 inent mineralogists abroad, he established friendly relations with those 

 most interested in his favorite science. After the completion of his 

 medical studies, he traveled for two years on the Continent of Europe, 

 making the acquaintance of the Abbe Hatiy, and other eminent min- 

 eralogists, and collecting an extensive cabinet of valuable minerals, 

 which, on his return to this country in 1803, he brought with him to 

 New York. This collection, with another brought to New York about 

 the same time by Mr. B. D. Perkins both being made fully acces- 

 sible to all interested in seeing them contributed, it was said, more 

 than any agencies had ever done before to excite in the public an ac- 

 tive interest in the science of mineralogy. Besides this, Dr. Bruce 

 entered into extensive correspondence with others interested in the 

 subject, was active in visiting and discovering new mineral localities, 

 and in advising, encouraging, and inspiring young mineralogists. 

 Finally, after well considering the matter, he established the first 

 purely scientific periodical ever published in America. This was 

 called the " American Mineralogical Journal," and the first number of 

 it was published in 1810. It contained original contributions, chiefly 

 on mineralogy, from a number of investigators. " It was received," 

 says the elder Silliman, " in this country and in Europe in a flattering 

 manner ; it excited at home great zeal and effort in support of the 

 sciences which it fostered, and abroad it was hailed as the harbinger 

 of our future exertions." But alas ! it was in advance of the age, 

 and, after struggling for several years, was given up on the publication 

 of the fourth number. Possibly it would have continued longer had 

 it not been for the failing health of its founder. 



