( xv ) 
united. ina very high degree: a well-written treatife on this fubject, 
would be very valuable. 
To form with {peed and conveniency a tolerably accurate map of the 
United States, aftronomical obfervations ought to determine the latitude 
and longitude of thofe places, which are moft effential to the figure of 
the whole country, orto the fituation of certain parts ina political, and» 
ceconomical view. 
Exact furveys of private eftates are indifpenfible for the fecurity of 
landed property: from adefeé& of fuch many law-fuits. have originated 
and will enfue for years. I omit what.is the province of government 
inthis matter ; and only fuggeft a with, that a fmall treatife on the fur- 
vey of woodlands might be compofed ; as the beft Englith guides, being 
calculated for:an open country, do not particularly. attend to this branch. - 
4. ARTICLE, Inquiries..in Natural Hiffory. ~ 
Natural hiftery, like a faithful guide, leads us through the myfterious - 
mazes of nature, and opens to our enraptured eye her fublime and beau- 
tiful wonders. . How many precious plants areas defpicable weeds trod ~ 
under foot in every part of the world! How many new: qualities are 
from time to time difcovered in’ productions, which have been known 
for centuries in countries long ago perluftrated with this facred lamp! 
what treafures may we not then expeét in this new and vaft divifion of 
the globe! in the forefts of a thoufand. miles hitherto traverfed only by 
favage tribes, and mercenary traders; in our lakes, fome of which are 
inland-feas; and rivers that wander through feveral ftates before they 
meet the ocean! * neglect of natural hiftory under circumftances fo al- 
luring would indicate a want-of rational tafte. . I often heard the great 
Linneus with that he could have explored the continent of. North. Ame- - 
rica; may this wifh animate American philofophers. . 
The vegetable realm claims our firft attention. Let us begin with a 
refearch of the {lores it offers for the prefervation and recovery of health. 
The frequent appearance of trees, fhrubs, and plants, whofe tafte and 
fcent, or analogy with. well known pharmaceutics, is very promifing, 
would lead us to expect a very confiderable ftock of native Materia-Me- 
dica. But, although above an hundred of thefe fpecies are, or have 
been, more or lefs in ufe among the inhabitants, + very few of them 
are 
* The United States extend from the Atlantic to Mif_liflippi, and from Florida to Canada : 
taking in half of the great lakes, and of all the rivers, by the boundary-line. 
t Indefinite calculation from written and verbal accounts, with perfonal obfervation. 
