4 Biographical Notice of Dr. Bruce. [July, 



freely shown to the curious, by their liberal and courteous pro- 

 prietors) contributed more than any causes had ever done before, 

 to excite in the public mind an active interest in the science of 

 mineralogy.* 



Dr. Bruce, while abroad, had been personally and intimately 

 conversant with the Hon. Mr. Greville, of Paddington Green, 

 near London, a descendant of the noble house of Warwick, the 

 possessor of one of the finest private cabinets in Europe, and a 

 zealous cultivator of mineralogy. Count Bournon, one of those 

 loval French exiles, who found a home in England, during the 

 storm of the French revolution, was almost domesticated at Mr. 

 GrevihVs, and was hardly second to any man in mineralogical, 

 and particularly in crystallographical knowledge. His connex- 

 ions with men of science on the continent were of the first order, 

 and to be familiar at Mr. Greville's, and with Count Bournon, 

 was to have access to every thing connected with science in 

 England and France. Dr. Bruce was also at home at Sir 

 Joseph Banks's, the common resort of learned and illustrious 

 men. Thus he enjoyed every advantage in England ; and when 

 he went to the continent, the abundant means of introduction 

 which he possessed brought him into contact with the distin- 

 guished men of Paris, and of other cities which he visited. The 

 learned and estimable Abbe Haiiy was among his personal 

 friends and correspondents ; and many others might be men- 

 tioned in the same character, whose names are among the first in 

 the ranks of science, in various countries of Europe. 



Returned to his own country, after being so long familiar with 

 the fine collections in natural history, and especially in minera- 

 logy, in various countries in Europe, Dr. Bruce manifested a 

 strong desire to aid in bringing to light the neglected mineral 

 treasures of the United States. He soon became a focus of 

 information on these subjects. Specimens were sent to him 

 from many and distant parts of the country, both as donations, 

 and for his opinion respecting their nature. In relation to mine- 

 ralogy, he conversed, he corresponded extensively, both with 

 Europe and America ; he performed mineralogical tours ; he 

 kindly sought out and encouraged the young mineralogists of his 

 own country, and often expressed a wish to see a journal of 

 American mineralogy upon the plan of that of the School of Mines 

 at Paris. This object, it is well known, he accomplished ; and 

 in 1810, published the first number of this work. Owing to 

 extraneous causes, it was never carried beyond one volume ; but 

 it demonstrated the possibility of sustaining such a work in the 

 United States, and will always be mentioned in the history of 



* The collection of Mr. Perkins became in 1807 (partly by the liberality of its 

 possessor, and partly by purchase) the property of Yale College, and is now in 

 the cabinet of that institution. It is believed that few cabinets of equal extent 

 ever contained more instructive and beautiful specimens, with less that is unmean- 

 ing or superfluous. The cabinet of Dr. Bruce has,sincebis death, been purchased 

 hy a gentleman in New York for 5000 dollars. — Dr. Siu.im.vn. 



