AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 35 



which it was instituted, namely the promoting and 

 propagating useful knowledge. " 



In this very able paper, though the author may not 

 appear to be profoundly learned in Natural History 

 or Philosophy, he shows himself, at least, a warm 

 patriot, and a zealous promoter of science for the 

 honor as well as for the advantage of his country. 

 He expatiates at great length on the vast extent, the 

 various climates, and the numerous productions of 

 the British American Continent, how all these might 

 be improved for the common benefit and points to 

 Science as the means of producing that improvement. 

 But the Society should not confine itself to benefiting 

 our citizens; it should aim at enlightening the world, 

 and acquire fame abroad by its scientific discoveries, 

 of which Franklin had given the example. He, 

 therefore, concludes with proposing "to enlarge the 

 plan of the Society, to call to their assistance men 

 of learning and ingenuity from every quarter, and 

 unite in one generous noble attempt, not only to pro- 

 mote the interest of our Country, but to raise her 

 to eminence in the rank of polite and learned Na- 

 tions/' 25 



Why, said he, should we hesitate! 



"This proposal' ' say the minutes, "being read and 

 approved, C. Thomson was desired to draw up some 



25 The preface to the first volume of our Transactions [published in 

 1771] is almost entirely taken from that paper and was probably 

 written by Charles Thomson. 



