The American Journal of Science and Arts. 



The annexed prospectus is presented to the friends of science, 

 and their aid is respectfully solicited, in promoting the interests of 

 this Journal. 



Its patronage, since the appeal to the public, in the summer of 

 1829, has been more than sufficient to pay the expenses, including 

 the usual compensation, to such contributors as have been willing to 

 receive it. But, the stability and prosperity of this vi^ork require, 

 on the part of its editor, renewed efforts, especially with those intel- 

 ligent individuals, whose interests, or whose general views, will in- 

 duce them to sustain an American Journal of Science and Arts. 



When it is remembered, that even England had no Journal of 

 Science till about the beginning of the present century, and that the 

 first attempts in this country, were made only a few years later, it 

 will appear that they have been as well sustained by the public, as 

 could have been reasonably expected. Every periodical work must, 

 however, occasionally recruit its number of subscribers, or, it will, 

 in the course of a few years, fall into jeopardy. The American 

 Journal is still safe, (although its patronage has diminished, since 1829, 

 when, owing to the operation of peculiar causes, its numbers were, 

 suddenly, more than doubled ;) but, if its subscription should be too 

 long neglected, it may decline too far, and therefore the public at- 

 tention is now again invited to the subject. In this country, such a 

 work can neither be got up, without great effort, — nor can it be sus- 

 tained, without inflexible perseverance. If this Journal were suffer- 

 ed to go down, who would undertake the thankless toil of rearing 

 another ! Avoiding all the interests of party and sect, and of local 

 prejudice, it thus entirely foregoes the support afforded by popular 

 feeling, and therefore relies, as it has a full right to do, solely upon 

 the intelligent, the patriotic, and the philanthropic, and upon those 

 cultivators of the sciences and the arts, who are impelled by duty, in° 

 terest or taste. 



It is worse than useless, to push a subscription, for such a worl, 

 by indiscriminate solicitations. Subscriptions, obtained in that man- 

 ner, will not continue long, and will produce only a delusive expect- 

 ation of support, and an onerous increase of expense. Such persons 

 therefore, and such only, are. now addressed, as, from their correct 

 and considerate estimation of the value of useful knowledge, or from 

 iheir interests, will probably become permanent patrons. 



