374 Notice of Scientific Societies. 
them by the state for the purpose of distributing seeds, &c. 
and paliching their transactions, of which two volumes have 
— appea 
21. Lirerary axp Purnosormicat Society or New Jur- 
sey. Princeton, New Jersey. Instituted 1825. The .de- 
elared objects of this society, as set fourth in the discourse, 
recently delivered at its first annual meeting, by the Rev. 
Dr. Miller, are “the promotion of useful knowledge, and the 
friendly and profitable intercourse of the literary and scien- 
tific gentlemen of New Jersey.” 
22. American Puitosopuicat Society. Philadelphia. 
Instituted 1769, The earliest in point of date established in 
North America. It is highly creditable to this city that two 
scientific societies should have previously existed there for 
many years.* The transactions of this society consist of two 
series ; the first comprised in five volumes, the second in two, 
the last of which has just appeared. The early papers of 
Prof. Barton, of Mr. Jefferson on the great fossil Megalonyx, 
the geological papers of Mr. McClure, and the zoological 
communications of Messrs. Say and Lesueur, will deeply in- 
terest the American Naturalist. 
* To those who are curious in the early history of phi ilosophic 
uiry in this country, the following translation from a German avelier 
may be interesting. “ This society is ‘ibde bted for its einer to 
the unwearied efforts of Dr. Franklin. For more than twenty years 
previous, he had established a private society composed of his particu- 
lar friends. As many crept in, however, ve had little pretension to 
learning, but were proud of parading among learned men, the socie 
eclined. Hence, in 1769, a new associa at was set on foot, without 
including al er who were excluded, from a 
irit evenge, established an opposition society, a every 
one, and o m nes. After a time, however, for the 
good of science, it was hae ae advisable to unite the two 
this did not allay the spirit of party. Many page persons bare in 
to the great earl of the elder members. These unfortunate oc- 
currences did n Sait th dent materially impede the advancement of sci- 
a Tn the sap 1771, appeared the first volume of the Trans ae 
f the American Philosophical Society, in quarto, containing many pa- 
pais ngs to Natural History. The war has eae prevented the 
88 
appea many papers that are now ready for the press. Congre: 
however, althugh still inter a and with its very existence still 
pre carious, , has cast a fa wourable look u n the muse atrse and has 
Wonianetkceenee staat ten.’ Yor Jehann, D, Sch 4 
gen. 1788, 
