374 Notice of Scientific Societies. 
them by the state for the purpose of distributing seeds, &c. 
and publishing their transactions, of which two volumes have 
already appeared. 
21. Lirerary anp Puitosopuicay Society or New Jer- 
sty. Princeton, New Jersey.  Instituted 1825. The de- 
clared objects of this society, as set fourth in the discourse, 
recently delivered at its first annual meeting, by the Rev. 
Dr. Miller, are “the promotion of useful knowledge, and the 
friendly and profitable intercourse of the literary and scien- 
tific gentlemen of New Jersey.” 
22. American Puitosopuicat Society. Philadelphia. 
Instituted 1769. The earliest in point of date established in. 
North America, It is highly creditable to this city that twe 
scientific societies should have previously existed there for 
many years.* The transactions of this society consist of two 
series ; the first comprised in five volumes, the second in two, 
the last of which has just appeared. The early papers of 
Prof. Barton, of Mr. Jefferson on the great fossil Megalonyx, 
the geological papers of Mr. McClure, and the zoological 
communications of Messrs. Say and Lesueur, will deeply in- 
terest the American Naturalist. 
* To those who are curious in the early history of philosophical in- 
quiry in this Country, the following translation from a German traveller 
may be interesting. ‘ This society is indebted for its establishment te 
the unwearied efforts of Dr. Franklin. For more than twenty years 
previous, he had established a private society composed of his particu- 
lar friends. As many crept in, however, who had little pretension to 
learning, but were proud of parading among learned men, the society 
declined. Hence, in 1769, a new association was set on foot, without 
including all the former members. Those who were excluded, from a 
spirit of revenge, established an opposition society, and elected every 
one, and of course, some few good ones. After a time, however, for the 
good of science, it was deemed advisable to unite the two societies, but 
this did not allay the spirit of party. Many unworthy persons crept in 
to the great displeasure of the elder members. These unfortunate oc- 
currences did not, however, materially impede the advancement of sci- 
ence. In the year 1771, appeared the first volume of the Transactions 
of the American Philosophical Society, in quarto, containing many pa- 
pers relative to Natural History. The war has hitherto prevented the 
appearance of many papers that are now ready for the press. Congress 
however, although still inter arma, and with its very existence still 
precarious, has cast a favourable look upon the muse silentes, and has 
vouchsafed to give to this philosophical society, solidity and increased 
activity. ‘* Reise durch einige der mittlern und sudlichen vereinigten 
Nordamerikamschen Staaten.” Von Jehann. D. Schoepf. Erlan- 
gen. 1788. 
