186 Miscellanies. 



Genllemen, accustomed to such duties, are engaged to give short 

 courses of lectures in different departments of science, arts and 

 literature, and it is expected that a mental entertainment will thus 

 be afforded during nearly every week in the year. The lectures 

 are open to strangers as well as to citizens ; the charges will be 

 only sufBcient to pay the expenses, and should there be any thing 

 remaining, it will be devoted by Mr. Brewster to the formation of 

 a library for the institution. At the head of it, is placed Mr. C. 

 U. Shepard, a gentlemen already advantageously known as a zeal- 

 ous and successfulcultivatorof natural knowledge, especially of chem- 

 istry and natural history,* and more especially of mineralogy and bot- 

 any. Mr. Shepard will be responsible to give system and effect to 

 the lectures ; and at three preliminary meetings the design of the in- 

 stitution has been already explained to different divisions of citizens 

 and strangers. We need scarcely say that Mr. Brewster's example 

 is worthy of all praise and imitation, especially when we add, that 

 his exertions and contributions are equally conspicuous in the promo- 

 tion of every other important interest of the community. 



We hope to announce, at no distant day, another example, — not 

 of a mechanic, as in this instance, but of a practical farmer, who, 

 earning his money at the plow, and willing to see good done while 

 he is yet in vigorous, middle life, bestows his earnings, by thousands, 

 for the promotion of liberal knowledge. 



13. Addresses of the Rev. Adam SedgwicJc at the aniversary 

 meetings of the Geological Society of London. — The last of these 

 very able addresses was delivered Feb. 18, 1831. Like those that 

 have preceded it, from the same source, it is characterized by great 

 learning, vigor and discrimination. Professor Sedgwick's masterly 

 summaries of the progress of geological discovery and induction, 

 form the best history of the science, during the period which they 

 cover ; and there is no conclusion which they tend more fully to es- 

 tablish than the necessity of great caution in drawing general in- 

 ferences from a limited view of facts. To be justly appreciated, 

 these discourses must be studied with attention, and it is to be hoped 

 that the learned author will, in some other form if not in the present, 

 (since he has ceased to preside over the geological society,) continue 

 his reviews of the progress of geology with unsparing although cour- 

 teous criticism. 



* See Ins papers in this Journal, passim. 



