LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



science in the United States were then few now they 

 are numerous. Societies and associations of various 

 names, for the cultivation of natural history, have been 

 instituted in very many of our cities and towns, and 

 several of them have been active and efficient in making 

 original observations and forming collections. 



' While with our co-workers in many parts of our 

 broad land we rejoice in this auspicious change, we are 

 far from arrogating it to ourselves. Multiplied labors of 

 many hands have produced the great results. In the 

 place which we have occupied we have persevered in spite 

 of all discouragements, and may, with our numerous co- 

 adjutors, claim some share in the honors of the day. We 

 do not say that our work might not have been better 

 done but we may declare with truth that we have done 

 all in our power, and it is something to have excited 

 many others to effort and to have chronicled their deeds 

 in our annals. Let those that follow us labor with like 

 zeal and perseverance, and the good cause will continue 

 to advance and prosper. It is the cause of truth science 

 is only embodied and sympathized truth, and in the 

 beautiful conception of our noble Agassiz " it tells the 

 thought of God." 



" It can be readily understood that to maintain a 

 scientific journal in this country in the early part of the 

 century was not an easy task, notwithstanding the gener- 

 ous support which the editor received from his personal 

 friends and from other workers in science in the country. 

 Nothing but the determination and energy of the founder 

 and editor of the journal could have enabled it to survive. 

 The enterprise proved at first to be pecuniarily unprofit- 

 able, and the endeavor, continued through the first ten 

 years, to find a publisher willing to carry it on, was finally 

 abandoned, and the editor after 1827 became responsible 

 alone. As time went on the difficulties diminished some- 

 what, and after the first fifteen years it was self-support- 

 ing, though its means were always small. 



' Through the greater part of the first series of fifty 

 volumes, the editorial labors as well as the business part 

 of the work was carried on by Professor Silliman alone. 

 In 1838, however, his son, Benjamin Silliman, Jr., later 



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