SOURCES OP HUMAN KNOWLEDGE. 23 



tation. There are also Academies of Sciences at Munich, Gottingen, 

 Giessen, and Manheim ; the last founded by Charles Theodore, elec- 

 tor palatine. To these we may add the German Association of Phy- 

 sicians and Naturalists; founded in 1822. There are Royal Acade- 

 mies, at St. Petersburg, founded in 1725 ; at Stockholm, 'founded in 

 1739; at Copenhagen, 1742; at Brussels, 1772; and at Madrid, 

 founded in 1714: and at Lisbon, there are Royal Academies both of 

 History, and of Sciences; the latter founded in 1779. 



In Great Britain, the Royal Society of London, was organized in 

 1645, and chartered in 1662; Sir Isaac Newton being its first presi- 

 dent. Its collections are extensive ; and it has published 130 quarto 

 volumes of transactions. The Royal Society of Edinburgh origi 

 nated as early as 1718; though it was not incorporated till 1783: and 

 the Royal Irish Academy was established at Dublin, about the year 

 1782, chiefly by members of the University. The Literary and Phi- 

 losophical Society of Manchester, was founded in 1781 ; and the 

 London Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, originated 

 in 1827: Lord Brougham being one of its chief supporters. This 

 latter society has acquired great celebrity by its publications, entitled 

 the Library of Useful, and the Library of Entertaining Knowledge. 

 The British Association, for the Advancement of Science, held its 

 first annual meeting in 1831 ; and has done much for the promotion 

 of physical science, by its researches and reports. 



In the United States, the American Philosophical Society, was 

 organized at Philadelphia, in 1769, by the union of two similar socie- 

 ties, previously existing; Dr. Franklin being its first president. It 

 has directed various important investigations, and has published ten 

 quarto volumes of valuable scientific memoirs. The American Acade- 

 my of Arts and Sciences, was founded at Boston, in 1780; and has 

 published four volumes of its transactions. The Connecticut Acade- 

 my of Arts and Sciences, was founded at New Haven, in 1799; 

 and the Literary and Philosophical Society of New York, origi- 

 nated in 1815. The National Institution, organized at Washington, in 

 1840, is similar to these societies in its constitution and objects; and 

 derives, from its location, some important advantages for the accumu- 

 lation of knowledge. Besides these institutions, we can here only 

 name the Historical Societies of Massachusetts, New York, Penn- 

 sylvania, and several other states : the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 in Philadelphia; the Lyceum of Natural History in New York ; the 

 Society of Natural History in Boston; the Albany Institute; the 

 New York Naval Lyceum ; and other similar institutions ; the New 

 York Society for the Promotion of the Useful Arts ; the Franklin Insti- 

 tute in Philadelphia ; the Academies of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia 

 and New York ; and the numerous Medical, Agricultural, Educational, 

 and other societies, scattered over the Union. 



Libraries 



Among the most important sources of knowledge, are collections of 

 books and manuscripts, called Libraries. The name is derived from 

 the Latin, liber, a book ; the same word signifying also the inner bark 

 of trees, which was used for writing upon, before the invention of 



