Miscellanies. 395 



22. Principles of Statistical Inquiry , as illustrated in proposals 

 for uniting an examination into the resources of the United States, 

 with the census to be taken in 1840; by Archibald Russell, 

 New York, D. Appleton & Co., 1839, 8vo. pp. 263. 



Constitution and By-Laws of the American Statistical Associa- 

 tion, with an Address. Boston, 1840. 



This is a lucid statement of the chief points of interest, and the 

 mode of making the investigation in a statistical history of the Uni- 

 ted States. It seems to have been written with a view of calling the 

 attention of the general government to the importance of the subject, 

 and of inducing the Secretary of State to adopt such measures as lie 

 within his power, to combine with the census of the population the 

 following interesting inquiries into — 



1st. The products of Manufactures and Arts — viz. mines and min- 

 erals, manufactures of metals, manufactures on the loom, general man- 

 ufactures. 2d. Agricultural statistics. 3d. Occupations in which the 

 inhabitants are engaged. 4th. Place of nativity of the inhabitants. 

 5th. Vital statistics, i. e. the average duration and value of human 

 life in the U. S. 6th. Crime. 7th. Pauperism. 8th. Education. 

 9th. Clergy. 10th. Taxation. For all these subjects plans of con- 

 ducting the investigation are proposed, which seem to be well devis- 

 ed, and conceived in a philosophical spirit. It is certainly to be 

 hoped that the general government, with whom alone rests the power 

 of collecting accurate statistics, will faithfully discharge this most 

 important subject ; for it is evident that exact knowledge on the topics 

 embraced in the present treatise will be of vastly more value than a 

 mere numerical return of the inhabitants. 



In connection with this subject, we have the pleasure of mention- 

 ing that a Statistical Society has been recently organized in Boston, 

 called the American Statistical Society, and that they have issued 

 their constitution and laws, and lists of members and fellows. Their 

 objects are briefly stated in an address. They are associated and 

 will cooperate with the foreign statistical societies at Paris, London, 

 &c., by whose exertions the subject has been exalted into a science. 



23. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 

 Vol. VIII, Part I. 8vo. pp. 171. Philadelphia, 1839. 



The transactions of this Society have always been characterized by 

 their scientific accuracy and permanent value. The Academy has 

 been more fortunate than any other similar institution in this country, 

 in enjoying, through a long course of years, the munificent patronage 

 of the pioneer of American geology, the late and lamented William 

 Maclure. They had just removed their library and collections to a 



