404 Comparative Encouragement to the Study, ^c. 



which was first published in 1814, has, according to statements 

 made not long ago to the public, by the editor, barely supported 

 itself, although at the time, it was the only publication of the 

 kind in the country, and was issued at a price not exceeding the 

 average cost of British publications of the same character. The 

 Monthly American Journal of Geology and Natural Science, is 

 but half the price of the last mentioned work ; it was published 

 at a low rate, for the express purpose of diffusing itself more 

 amply through the country. The experiment has been of too 

 short duration, to form a proper estimate of its probable success. 

 The other periodicals, we believe, are struggling against their 

 expenses, which absolutely prevent liberal editors from doing 

 justice to their undertakings. Except the transactions of a few 

 societies, the seven occasional works mentioned, have no perma- 

 nent character, for the same reasons. 



In despite of this unfavourable state of things, we are disposed 

 to look upon the appearance of twenty works of a scientific 

 character in the United States, as indicative of a good prelimi- 

 nary state of things ; we see in it the cause of natural history 

 putting out its feelers — to use an appropriate figure — in search 

 of nourishment ; and we find every confirmation of this opinion, 

 in the increasing interest with which this subject is regarded in 

 private society, and in the other encouragements it has received. 

 Still, when we look at the immense quantity of newspapers pub- 

 lished in this country, amounting, we believe, to about nine hun- 

 dred, all of which must be paid for, and which are evidence of 

 an immense intellectual activity, we cannot but wish that a por- 

 tion of this patronage were directed to that true kind of know- 

 ledge, that leads to a sound and a cheerful state of mind. We 

 shall not be accused of undervaluing the labours of that press 

 which daily ministers to our own information and pleasures when 

 we state that too great a portion of our political country journals 

 are more calculated to confuse, than to enlighten our citizens ; 

 who, as to the honesty and ability of our politicians, are left pretty 

 much in the same state of mind with the deaf watchman of 

 Stoke Pogis, whom, during its famous insurrection, having been 

 sent out by some female anti-reformers to reconnoitre, brought 

 back the important information, " that the boys were letting off 

 a great many crackers in the streets, and that there were so 

 many reports, he did not know which to believe." There is 



