AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 35 



scribers to be forgotten who, occupied in the common pursuits 

 of life, have aided, by their money, in sustaining the hazardous 

 novelty of an American Journal of Science. A general appro- 

 bation, sufficiently decided to encourage effort, where there was 

 no other reward, has supported the editor ; but he has not been 

 inattentive to the voice of criticism, whether it has reached him 

 in the tones of candor and kindness, or in those of severity. 

 We must not look to our friends for the full picture of our 

 faults. He is unwise who neglects the maxim 



fas est ab hoste doceri, 



and we may be sure, that those are quite in earnest, whose 

 pleasure it is, to place faults in a strong light and bold relief; 

 and to throw excellencies into the shadow of total eclipse. 

 Minds at once enlightened and amiable, viewing both in their 

 proper proportions, will however render the equitable verdict; 



Non ego paucis offendar maculis, 



It is not pretended that this Journal has been faultless; there 

 may be communications in it which had been better omitted, and 

 it is not doubted that the power to command intellectual effort, 

 by suitable pecuniary reward, would add to its purity, as a 

 record of science, and to its richness, as a repository of dis- 

 coveries in the arts. 



But the editor, even now, offers payment, at the rate adopted 

 by the literary Journals, for able original communications, con- 

 taining especially important facts, investigations and discoveries 

 in science, and practical inventions in the useful and ornamental 

 Arts. 



As however his means are insufficient to pay for all the copy, 

 it is earnestly requested, that those gentlemen, who, from other 

 motives, are still willing to write for this Journal, should con- 

 tinue to favor it with their communications. That the period 

 when satisfactory compensation can be made to all writers whose 

 pieces are inserted, and to whom payment will be acceptable, is 

 not distant, may perhaps be hoped, from the spontaneous expres- 

 sion of the following opinion, by the distinguished editor of one 

 of our principal literary journals, whose letter is now before 

 me. "The character of the American Journal is strictly 

 national, and it is the only vehicle of communication in which 

 an inquirer may be sure to find what is most interesting in the 

 wide range of topics, which its design embraces. It has become 

 in short, not more identified with the science than the literature 

 of the country." It is believed that a strict examination of 

 its contents will prove that its character has been decidedly 

 scientific ; and the opinion is often expressed to the editor, that 



