174 Miscellanies. 



i 



I cannot conclude without expressing my deep sense of obligation 

 to various scientific gentlemen, who have been so good as to commu- 

 nicate to me their observations. I am particularly indebted for many 

 valuable suggestions, to Gen. DeWitt of Albany, and to Alexander C. 

 Twining, Esq., of West Point. Indeed, on comparing notes with 

 Mr, Twining, I learn, that we have pursued nearly the same track of 

 investigation, and arrived at some results very similar to each other; 

 and I am happy to share with so able a coadjutor, the responsibility 

 of bringing them before the public. 



MISCELLANIES. 



FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 



British and American Journals of Science. — The diminution of 

 the number of periodical works devoted exclusively to science in 

 Great Britain, has, within a few years, been quite remarkable. One 

 highly respectable quarterly journal, published in London, at the 

 fountain head of science, has ceased to exist. Two of the monthly 

 journals of the metropolis, which, during several years, maintained a 

 friendly rivalship, at length coalesced, and they have since been join- 

 ed by an Edinburgh quarterly journal, forming a monthly trio in uno, 

 not larger than either of the original journals. The only quarterly 

 at present in Great Britain, is Prof. Jameson's Edinburgh New 

 Philosophical Journal, which has attained its twenty eighth or thirtieth 

 number. This is a work of about the same number of pages as the 

 American Journal. Many of the changes alluded to, have taken place 

 since the commencement of our labors, and it cannot but be gratify- 

 ing to us, to find so many of the pages of our Journal transferred to 

 those of the only remaining quarterly, which promulgates science 

 among British readers. The last two numbers which have come to 

 hand, contain each twenty pages taken from one Vol. (23d) of our 

 Journal. These extracts are not confined to original articles, but 

 extend largely to the matter selected by us from the continental jour- 

 nals, and newly translated for our pages. While we are pleased with 

 this tribute to the taste and judgment of our selections and transla- 

 tions, it may perhaps be no more than right to say, that when such 

 materials are copied from one journal to another, the source from 

 which they are derived, ought, we think, to be acknowledged. 



