Biographical Notice of Dr. Bruce. 303 



His connexions with men of science on the continent, were of 

 the first order, and to be familiar at Mr. Greville's, and with 

 Count Bournon, was to have access to every thing connected 

 with science in England and France. Dr. Bruce was also at 

 home at Sir Joseph Banks's, the common resort of learned and 

 illustrious men. Thus he enjoyed every advantage in England, 

 and when he went to the continent, the abundant means of in- 

 troduction which he possessed, brought him into contact with 

 the distinguished men of Paris, and of other cities which he 

 visited. The learned and estimable Abbe Haiiy was among 

 his personal friends and correspondents ; and' many others 

 might be mentioned in the same character, whose names are 

 among the first in the ranks of science, in various countries of 

 Europe. 



Returned to his own country, after being so long familiar 

 with the fine collections in natural history, and especially in 

 mineralogy, in various countries in Europe, Dr. Bruce mani- 

 fested a strong desire to aid in bringing to light the neglected 

 mineral treasures of the United States. He soon became a fo- 

 cus of information on these subjects. Specimens were sent to 

 him from many and distant parts of the country, both as dona- 

 tions and for his opinion respecting their nature. In relation 

 to mineralogy he conversed, he corresponded extensively, both 

 with Europe and America ; he performed mineralogical tours ; 

 he kindly sought out and encouraged the young mineralogists 

 of his own country, and often expressed a wish to see a journal 

 of American mineralogy upon the plan of that of the School of 

 Mines at Paris. This object, it is well known, he accomplished, 

 and in 1810, published the first number of this work. Owing 

 to extraneous causes, it was never carried beyond one volume ; 

 but it demonstrated the possibility of sustaining such a work in 

 the United States, and will always be mentioned in the history 

 of American science, as the earliest original purely scientific 

 journal of America. 



Dr. Bruce had, in a high degree, the feelings of a man of sci- 

 ence. He was ever forward to promote its interests, and both 

 at home and abroad, was considered as one of its most distin- 

 guished American friends. ' 



