4 ba 4 RE 
Sirteritiro 
1819. 
Nr. XV. 
N N \ 
Litterariſche Nachrichten. 
Circularaddres on Botany and Zooloey; 
Followed by the Prospectus of two Periodical 
works; Annals of Nature and somiology of North 
Ameria. By C. S. Ralines que, ot the Royal 
Institute of Natural sciences of Naples, and of se- 
veral other learned societies in Europe and 
t America. 
This Circular is relpectfully directed to all the 
Naturaliſts, Botaniſts nd Zoologilts; Profeſſors and Stu- 
dents, Univerlities, Colleges, Inititutes and Learned So- 
eieties; Collectors of Natural Objects and Niecenates of 
Natural Sciences; Owners or Directors of Botanical Gar- 
dens, Museums or Public Libraries; and to all enlighte- 
ned Gentlemen, Ladies, Travellers, Supercargoes, Mer- 
chants, Ship Captains, Bookſellers, Reviewers, Phyü- 
cians, Farmers, Planters, Cultivators, Nurserymen, 
Seedsmen, etc. etc. etc. 
In America, Europe, and all the parts of the world, 
by the Author. 
To Philadelphia, 
I hope that the motives Which lead me in the pre- 
fent inſtance, in taking the liberty to hand you this cir- 
„eular, will be confidered as a sufficient apology for in- 
truding so far upon you. Many, among those for whom 
this address is calculated, are already my friends or cor- 
reſpondents, and whatever I may have to impart to them, 
will not be unacceptable. Several others may know me, 
or have [een lome of my writings before, and this com- 
munication will not prove entirely uninterelting to them. 
Such however as never heard of me or my writings (1.) 
will now begin to know me, and I truit that our mu- 
tual yes and correſpondence will ultimately 
prove uleful to both, and to feience. 
After having publ shed in Palermo in the early part 
of 1816 a comprehenſive view of my new ideas on 
the fiudy of nature, with the title of Analyfe de Na- 
tre ou Tableau de l’Univers et des Corps Organises, (2.) 
I meant to have paid a vilit to the continent of F.urope, 
in order to get better acquainted with the eminent natu- 
raliſts and butanifts who live there, and on purpole to 
publish my numerous manulferipts (3) at the feat of 
feience; but the new political convullions which took 
place at that period, prevented me from carrying this 
plan into execution, and induced me to leave Europe al- 
together, and return to the United States of America, 
With the intention of refiding, forever in that peaceful 
and happy country, which bids fair to emulate Europe 
in the fciences within a short per od. 
A I left the island of Sicily on 218t July, 181l, and after 
opvın 
stehdhe the shores of America, when on the third of 
November, I had the misfortune tojbe shipwrecked, loo- 
fing at once all my books, manucripts, plates, draw- 
ings, maps, herbarium, collections, minerals, etc. the 
fruit of twenty years labours, exertions and travels: it 
was even with the utmoſt difficulty that I saved my own 
life, and landed near New London, in Connecticut. All 
the particulars of my vo age, shipwreck and losses, will 
be published hereafter under the tille of Ihe Shipwreck uf a 
Naturalift; and Iwill endeavour to add thereto Juch of my 
ad Gibraltar and the island of St. Michael, I had | 
unpublished diſcoveries asmay be brought back to my re- 
collection. g 7 
This dreadful miſfortune has not, however, impaired 
my zeal; I am determined to begin again my labours, 
and even to write ſeveral of my loft manuscripts oer 
again, particularly my travels in Sicily, my Critiqu es 
Genres (Criticism of Genera) my Claſficaflon of plants, 
etc. beſides all thole relating to the United States. 
Such a circumſtence gives me a claim to your ſup- 
port; indeed in the deltitute state in which I have been 
left, I mult crave it; but I hope that I may be enabled 
at all times to make you a suitable return, or reward 
you with the dedication of New Genera and Species. 
Allow me to state that I mean to reside in Philadel- 
phia, but to employ part of this and next year in travel- 
ling, to collect a new extensive American herbarium, etc, 
which will enable me to begin ufeful exchanges; I shall 
therefore delay my publications till next year, emplo- 
ying myself, meantime, in collecting new information 
and materials, for the several works which I havelin. con- 
templation to publiſh gradually hereafter. (4) 
Meantime I beg leave to hand yon my annexed pro- 
spectus of two periodical works, which I [hall begin. ta 
publich in 1817 and 1818, and if vou find them worthy 
of your fupport, I beg you will patroniſe them by sub- 
feribing thereto, and circulating the propofals among 
your friends and acquaintance. 
If you ſhould be able to make me any communica- 
tions on the subjects of thosc works, I truſt you will 
avail yourfelf of every opportunity to do ſo, and. yow 
will thereby render a fervice not merely to myſelf, but 
to feience in general. f a 
Whatever be your fituation in life, and wherever is 
your abode, I hope we may be ufeful to each other; and 
I fhall liate how, according to the different ſtations you 
may fill, or countries you inhabit. { j 
If you live in the United States or in their neigh- 
bourhood, you will find moſt of my defiderata fiated in 
my proſpectus of the Somiology of North America, im 
addition to which, J am to add, that it will be with the 
utmoſt pleaſure I [hall undertake exchanges of dried [pe- 
cimens of plants with you; for such plants as grow in 
er neighbourhood, and you may be plenfed to ſend me, 
will make you a return in plants of other parts of the 
United States. Should you not be able to name properly 
the Ipecimens you er send me, I fhall undertake to gl- 
ve you their proper names. Such peculiarit es and proper- 
ties of thofe plants, as you may be willing to ſtate, [hall 
be thankfully acknowledged. If you fhould want fo- 
reign Ipecimens of dried plants or botanical and zoo- 
logical works from Europe, I will endeavonr to procure 
them for you at firſt coli. A ſtatement of the names and 
abodes of fuch friends or acquaintances of yours, who 
cultivate Botany and Zoulogy, or may: forward the ob- 
ject of my purſuits, will be at all times highly accept · 
able; mean time pleaſe to acquaint them that this circu- 
lar is common to them. If you are a merchant or chip 
owner, pleaſe to recommend to the intelligent fujercar- 
goes or captain, you may employ in foreign voyages, 
particularly in South America, Africa, Aſia, or Poly- 
nelia, to collect in their leiſure hours, any plant they 
will meet in bloifom, aud dry it between paper, or the 
[heets of a book, or [uch ſhellz, corals, etc. as they will 
meet on the Ähores; and preferye in Ipirits (weakened 
15 
