Forth-coming Scientific Works. 415 
Seminary, states in her preface, that having been for some time de- 
voted int part to the study of Botany, with the charge of a large class, 
she experienced the want of a suitable book for beginners, and was 
led to prepare for the use of her pupils, a sketch, of which the present 
treatise is but the filling up. Among the sources of information, from 
which she has drawn, are mentioned the works of Mirbel, Rousseau, 
St. Pierre, Smith, Woodville, Eaton, Nuttall, and Torrey, the En- 
eyelopedias, and various other approved treatises upon the subject. 
The book is neatly executed, and illustrated by-a frontispiece, exhib- 
iting the progress of vegetation at different heights, and several en- 
gravings from original designs; and cannot fail of answering the prin- 
cipal intention of its amiable authoress, of engaging persons of her own 
sex in a study, eminently calculated to interest and instruct them. 
4. Elements of Spherical Trigonometry ; designed as an Introdue- 
tion to the Study of Nautical Astronomy ; by J. P. Rodriguez, U. 
S. Navy Yard, Gosport. 8vo. pp. 24.—This little work is valuable 
in itself; and still more so from the promise it holds out, of something, 
further from the same author. He is known to us as a young gen- 
tleman of high mathematical attainments. His object is to prepare 
for our Naval officers a work, in which the higher principles of Nav-. 
igation shall be developed, but which at the same tme will be suited 
to their contracted opportunities for study and improvement -on this 
subject. Such a work is needed, and we wish Mr. Rodriguez suc- 
cess. iiss 
5, Lyceums.—This is a name given to numerous town associa- 
tions now forming in the State of Massachusetts. Their object is, to. 
establish Libraries, to raise the character. of district schools, to compile 
town histories, to prepare town Maps, to promote Agricultural. and: 
Geological Surveys, and to form collections. of Minerals. Some 
maps, of good execution, and surprising cheapness, have been sent 
to. us, as the results of these efforts: the system promises much 
good, and, it is hoped, will extend to other States. 
6. Transactions of the Albany Institute for Dec. 1829.—The 
present number contains Statistical Notices of some of the Lunatic 
Asylums in the United States, by T. Romeyn Beck ; Observations 
on the great Greywacke Region of the State of New York, by James’ 
orse ; and a Topographical Sketch of the State of New York, de- 
signed chiefly to show the general. elevations and. depressions. off its: 
surface, illustrated by an engraving, by Joseph Henry. 0 
