The American Journal of Science and Arts. 
Tue annexed prospectus is presented to the friends of science, 
and their aid is respectfully solicited, in promoting its interests so far 
as they may be thought to be connected with this Journal. 
Since the 12th volume, its patronage, has been more than sufficient 
to pay the expenses, but to insure the stability and usefulness of the 
work requires renewed efforts, on the part of its editor. 
As even England had no Journal of Science till about the begin- 
ning of the present century, it is cheering to remember, that the 
first attempts in this country, made only a few years later, have 
been, thus far, sustained by the public. Suill, every periodical work 
must, occasionally, recruit its number of subseribers, or it will 
fall into jeopardy. The American Journal is not yet in immediate 
danger, but, its subscription is far too limited to do all the good of 
which it is capable ; and after a gradual decline, since 1829, it would 
be happy if it could be again increased as it was in that year. The 
simple expedient then adopted, was, for each subscriber to obtain one 
subscriber more, and in this manner the subscription was soon doubled. 
In this country, such a work, involving peculiar difficulties, can 
neither be got up, nor sustained, without great effort and perseverance. 
Avoiding local, personal, party and sectarian interests and preju- 
dices, it thus entirely foregoes the support afforded by popular feel- 
ing, and therefore relies, as it has a full right to do, solely upon the 
intelligent, the patriotic, the philanthropic, and the interested. 
It ts worse than useless, to resort to indiscriminate solicitations. 
Subscriptions, obtained in that manner, will not continue long, and 
will produce only a delusive expectation of support, and a certain in- 
crease of expense. Such persons therefore, and such only, should 
be addressed, as, from their considerate and correct estimation of the 
value of useful knowledge, or from their interests and taste, will 
probably become permanent patrons. 
