IV PREFACE. 



Minds, at once eliglilened and amiable, viewing both in their 

 proper proportions, will however render the equitable verdict ; 



Noa ego paucis offendar niaculis. — 



It is not pretended that this Journal has been faultless ; tliere 

 ftiay be communications in it which had been better omitted, 

 and it is not doubted that the power to command intellectual 

 effort, by suitable pecuniary reward, would add to its purity, as 

 a record of Science, and to its richness, as a repository of dis- 

 coveries in the Arts. 



But the editor, even now, offers payment, at the rate adopted 

 by the hterary Journals, for able original communications,'^ con- 

 taining especially important facts, investigations and discoveries 

 in science, and practical inventions in the useful and ornamental 

 Arts. ' 



As however his means are insufficient to pay for all the copy, 

 it is earnestly requested, that those gentlemen, who, from other 

 motives, are still willing to write for this Journal, should continue 

 to favor it with their communications. That the period when sat- 

 isfactory compensation can be made to all writers whose pieces 

 are inserted, and to whom payment will be acceptable, is not dis- 

 tant, may perhaps be hoped, from the spontaneous expression of 

 the following opinion, by the distinguished editor of one of our 

 principal literary Journals, whose letter is now before me. " The 

 character of the American Journal is strictly national, and it is 

 the only vehicle of communication in which an inquirer may be 

 sure to find what is most interesting in the wide range of topics, 

 which its design embraces. It has become in short, not more 

 identified with the science than the literature of the country." It 

 is believed that a strict examination of its contents will prove that 

 its character has been decidedly scientific ; and the opinion is 



* Of course, with liberty reserved, to return those which are not adapted tc» 

 hfs views, or which are beyond his means. 



