PREFACE. vil 
‘C INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 
“The age in which we live isnot less distinguished by a vigor- 
ous and successful cultivation of physical science, than by its nu- 
merous and important applications to the practical arts, and to 
the common purposes of life. ' | 
“Tn every enlightened country, men illustrious for talent, worth, 
. and knowledge, are ardently engaged in enlarging the boundaries 
of natural science ; and the history of their labors and discoveries 
is communicated to the world chiefly through the medium of 
Scientific Journals. The utility of such Journals has thus be- 
come generally evident; they are the heralds of science; they 
proclaim its toils and its achievements; they demonstrate its in- 
timate connexion as well with the comfort, as with the intellec- 
tual and moral improvement of our species; and they often pro- 
cure for it enviable honors and substantial rewards. 
“Tn England, the interests of science have been, for a series of 
years, greatly promoted by the excellent Journals of Tulloch and 
Nicholson ; and for the loss of the latter, the scientific world has 
been fully compensated by Dr. Thomson’s Annals of Philoso- 
phy, and by the Journal of Science and the Arts, both published 
in London. 
“Tn France, the Annales de Chimie et de Physique, the Journal 
des Mines, the Journal de Physique, &c. have long enjoyed a 
high and deserved reputation. Indeed, there are few countries 
in Kurope which do not produce some similar publication ; not 
to mention the transactions of learned societies and numerous 
medical journals. 
“From these sources owr country reaps, and will long continue 
to reap, an abundant harvest of information: and if the light of 
science, as well as of day, springs from the east, we will wel- 
come the rays of both; nor should national pride induce us to 
reject so rich an offering. 
“But can we do nothing in return? 
“Jn a general diffusion of useful information through the vari- 
ous classes of society, in activity of intellect, and fertility of re- 
source and invention, producing a highly intelligent population, 
we have no reason to shrink from a comparison with any coun- 
> 
