Vlll. PKEFACE. 



American Journal, (which were all that he had then seen) 

 says; " I hail it as the commencement of American scien- 

 tific periodical works, and have no doubt from the valuable 

 matter which you have already presented us with, that 

 America will rival the most scientific countries in the old 

 world," The citing of this passage would be inconsis- 

 tent with decorum, were not the commendation of this illus- 

 trious author, and teacher, and editor, chiefly the property 

 of our contributors, and but in a small degree our own. 

 The celebrated Professor Ferrara of the University of Pa- 

 lermo in the Island of Sicily, speaking on the subject of 

 American Science, Said recently to a friend of the editor, 

 that he " did not doubt that the Sciences and Arts would be- 

 fore long, pass to America in their highest perfection, and 

 that we should ere long, succeed to Asia and Europe, in the 

 literary empire of the world." 



But, on the other hand, we are now bound in justice to the 

 interests of American Science, not to withhold from its patrons, 

 the fact that the two first volumes of this Journal have been, 

 thus far, in a pecuniary view, losing concerns. The pro- 

 prietors of the first Volume have not yet received back the 

 money which they have expended — nor is the editor yet re- 

 paid, simply for the paper, printing and engraving of the sec- 

 ond volume, and that upon the supposition that all the mon- 

 ey is collected from the contractors for quantities. 



But it is some relief to add, that the patronage, during the 

 past year, has been gradually, but on the whole, regutarly 

 increasing, and as it now stands, will probably, just about 

 cover the expense of the materials and mechanical labour of 

 the third volume. Nothing has ever been paid for contri- 

 butions to the pages of the work ; to the honour of our sci- 

 entific friends, they have contributed their gratuitous labours 

 with cheerfulness and perseverence, and the scientific pub- 

 lic, both at home and abroad, have already decided favour- 

 ably on their productions. 



With this simple statement of facts, we now dismiss the 

 subject, after expressing our determination, notwithstanding 

 all discouragements, to proceed, cheerfully, and with good 

 courage, in our labour, contented also to relinquish it when- 

 ever others will more faithfully and successfully perform it, 

 or our country shall have clearly decided that it does not 

 approve, or will not supnort our undertaking. 



May, 1820. 



