142 The American Journal of Science and Arts. 



REVIEWS. 



Art. I. The American Journal of Science and Arts. Con- 

 ducted by Prof. Silliman and B. Silliman, Jr. Vol. 

 XL. Quarterly. No. 1, for January, 1841. New Ha- 

 ven, 1841. 



Probably no periodical published in this country holds so 

 conspicuous a rank as Prof. Silliman's Journal of Science. 

 Under his charge, it has attained a position which is not sur- 

 passed by any similar publication in Europe. Its pages are 

 filled with valuable articles upon every branch of science, and 

 there is no discovery or improvement which escapes the no- 

 tice of its able conductors. It must be considered not only 

 as the organ of the scientific minds of this coimtry, but as the 

 source through which may be learned the advancement of 

 science throughout the world. The tendency of the Journal 

 has been to elevate the character of the United States as a 

 scientific nation, and gives them a high standing abroad. 



The Journal has now reached its fortieth volume, and 

 though striving against many obstacles, and afibrding very 

 little income to its conductors, it has continued to increase in 

 the value and variety of its contents, and to sustain its high 

 rank among scientific periodicals. Its pages contain subjects 

 interesting to the agriculturist and horticulturist, as well as to 

 the botanist and mineralogist. Indeed, there is no individual 

 who feels any interest in scientific improvement, who will not 

 find in its pages much satisfactory and pleasing information. 

 A work so excellently conducted, should be sustained by all 

 who feel any pride in seeing our country, young as it is, pro- 

 duce a scientific journal, not surpassed by any other in the 

 world. 



We have been led to a notice of the Journal^ at this time, 

 by the appearance, in its pages, of a long and highly interest- 

 ing article by Dr. Gray, Prof, of Botany to the University 

 of Michigan, upon the European herbaria, "more particularly 

 those most interesting to the North American botanist." Dr. 

 Gray, it will be recollected, visited Euiope for the purpose 

 of collecting material for the more complete publication of the 

 Flora of JV'or//i America^ and also for selecting a library for 

 the University of Michigan. Excellent facilities were ex- 



