Miscellanies. 187 
that of France in particular. They have tended to facilitate the 
views of the Statesman, by offering to him in a condensed form, 
the internal sources of wealth, not only of his own, but of surround- 
ing nations ; their labors render the public happiness more secure, 
inasmuch as the dark paths of the future may become enlightened 
by the experience of the past; they offer a solid basis for political 
and social economy, and they relieve and assist the Ministry of a 
Government by condensing and bringing to a focus, not only-the 
minutiz, but deduced facts relative to the internal or external power 
of any nation, either remote or in their immediate vicinity. 
In the Gail States of America, however, the existence of such 
Societies must be of incalculable benefit. The embryo gigantic 
powers of this Republic are now beginning to develop themselves, 
and it is of primary importance that the grand stream of prosperity 
be directed into that course which will not only secure the present 
prosperity, but also the future greatness of the United States, whilst 
it must add to the welfare and happiness of her population. 
The present popular system of rapid and cheap communication, 
has already been anticipated by the enterprising genius of the Uni- 
ted States, and she forms a very prominent example of the immense 
advantazes which a nation derives from the projection of such plans 
as shall tend to give full scope to the energies of the people, whilst 
at the same time it opens the paths to the development of her sacl 
nal resources, commercial, mineral or agricultural. 
To mark out and pradently to direct the course of such facilities 
of communication, requires the aid of statistic information. ‘The 
fecundity of the soil, the amount of population, the manufactured 
products and their separate values, each require particular conside- 
ration; and this can be obtained only by personal research. The 
condensation of such researches forms one of the leading features 
of a Statistical Society. To accumulate and condense the informa- 
tion given by modern authors, and more particularly that offered by 
persons who have occasion to visit foreign countries for scientific re- 
search, forms the object of the “ Universal Statistical Society ‘of 
France.” To contrast the present degree of prosperity with the 
past, and to enquire into the causes of the increase or diminution, 
is its particular care ; to trace the gradual development of the cau- 
ses which have influenced the progress, increase, and present actu- 
al state of the wealth and power of civilized nations, forms the 
grand utility to society produced by their united labors ; and finally, 
