Literary and Scientific Associations. 259 



bably otherwise have, been lost through the modesty, 

 the indolence, or the poverty of authors. Literary 

 and scientific associations, moreover, by extend- 

 ing their honours to distant countries, bind more 

 closely together the members of the republic of 

 letters in different quarters of the globe, and 

 teach them to feel as brethren embarked in the 

 same cause. They may even be said, in some 

 instances, to have a great influence in advancing 

 national prosperity, and promoting a spirit of 

 general improvement. It is true, in accounting 

 for these facts, other causes may be assigned which ? 

 beyond doubt, contributed to their production; 

 but it can as little be doubted that the increased 

 intercourse and connection among the learned, by 

 means of the establishment of academies and so- 

 cieties, ought to be considered as holding a place 

 among the most important sources of modern im- 

 provements in science. 



The formation of literary and scientific associa- 

 tions in the United States began to take place in 

 the latter half of the eighteenth century. Within 

 that period many useful societies have been insti- 

 tuted which deserve some notice. The principal 

 of these are the following — ■ 



1 . Societies and Academies of Arts and Sciences. 

 Of this class there are several. " The American 

 Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia, for pro- 

 moting useful knowledge," was instituted in Janu- 

 ary, 1769. It was formed by the union of two 

 smaller societies, which had for some time existed 

 in that city, and has been ever since continued on a 

 very respectable footing. This society has published 

 four quarto volumes of its transactions, containing 

 many ingenious papers on literature, the sciences, 

 and arts, which exhibit American talents and in- 

 ry in a favourable light. Over this institution 

 have successively presided, Benjamin Franklin, 



