104 Literal'}; Associations. [Cha?. XXIII. 



advance the interest, honour, dignity, and happi^ 

 ness of a free, independent, and virtuous people," 

 This academy has published one quarto volume 

 of its transactions, and several parts of a second, 

 which will probably soon be completed. The 

 contents of its respective publications afford a very 

 honourable specimen of learning and diligence 

 in the members, and furnish ground for expecta- 

 tions of still greater utility, The gentlemen who 

 have presided o\ier this association are James 

 Bowdoin, and John Adams*. The Connecticut 

 Academy of Arts and Scioices was formed in 1799, 

 at New-Haven, " for the purpose of encouraging 

 literary and philosophical researches in general, 

 and particularly for investigating the natural his- 

 tory of that state." This society has existed so 

 short a time, that no publication of its proceed- 

 ings, of any extent, could yet be reasonably exr 

 pected. The gentleman first elected presidentj 

 and who yet remains in that office, is the rev. 

 Dr. Timothy Pwight, president of Yale college. 



2. Historical Society. The only association of 

 this kind in the United States is in Massachu- 

 setts. It was instituted in the beginning of the 

 year 1791, and the late rev. Dr. Belknap, the ho- 

 nourable judge Tudoi'. and the rev. Dr. Eliot, 

 are more entitled to the honour of being called 

 its founders- than any other individuals f. The 



"^ See Additional Notes, (K). 



f Dr. Belknap, whose taste for liistorical researches is well 

 known, and who has rendered such important service to the in- 

 terests of American history, first urged the adoption of some plan 

 for collecting and preserving the numerous historical documents 

 relating to that couiitr}'-, and especially to New England, which 



