432 Miscellanies. 



crystallographer — possessing an excellent and select cabinet of min- 

 erals — with habits of great industry — and with much zeal and urban- 

 ity — Mr. Shepard renders himself a most useful and acceptable 

 instructor. His friends may add, that his acquaintance with geology, 

 conchology, botany, and entomology, and generally with natural his- 

 tory ; with the aid of a very valuable library, and an extensive her- 

 barium, as well as collections in conchology and entomology — pre- 

 sents a combination of advantages rarely united in this country in a 

 single individual. 



Such a school as Mr. Shepard would have it in his power to es- 

 tablish, (and which is already begun,) is a great desideratum in 

 the United States. — Ed. 



Yale College, New Haven, Jan. 1, 1834. 



TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS. 



We have to regret the unavoidable exclusion from the present 

 number of many valuable papers and notices ; and the acknowledg- 

 ment of most of the books, memoirs, he, both foreign and domestic, 

 which we have recently received. This has been occasioned, chiefly, 

 by the occurrence of the meteors of Nov. 13 ; the historical notices 

 of which could not be postponed, and have occupied more than the 

 space usually allotted to our miscellanies. Most of the latter, inclu- 

 ding the valuable extracts and translations of Prof. Griscom, we 

 have been compelled to reserve for the next number, when we hope 

 to make, in some measure, amends for present omissions. 



We beg leave, however, to remind our friends, that we are not un- 

 'frequently placed in circumstances of painful embarrassment, by the 

 uncertainly of our communications, coming as they do from a wide 

 geographical range, at very irregular intervals, and often very late. 



Having perhaps (as in the present instance) admitted into the early 

 part of a number,* papers of uncommon length — although it may be 

 of great interest, — we not unfrequently, towards the conclusion, re- 

 ceive, perhaps from unexpected and distant quarters, communica- 

 tions which it is almost equally impossible to admit, or to postpone j 

 and we are driven to the alternative of incurring considerable extra 

 expense which the pecuniary circumstances of the Journal can ill af- 

 ford, or of causing painful disappointments. 



We particularly regret to pass in silence, on the present occasion, 

 the new No. (No. 1. Vol. III.) of Mr. Doughty's Natural History- 

 Magazine, interesting as it is in its contents, and beautiful in its exe- 

 cution ; the figure of the wild turkey is exceedingly fine, and is rare- 

 ly equalled in any work. — Ed. 



* We usually begin the printing of a new No. as soon as the one in hand is fin- 

 ished. 



