The American Journal of Science and Arts. 



The annexed prospectus is presented to ilie friends of science, 

 and their aid is respectfully solicited, in promoting its interests, so far 

 as they are connected with this Journal. 



Since the 12th volume, its patronage, has hcen more than suffi- 

 cient to pay the expenses, but to insure to it, both stability and in- 

 creasing usefulness, requires renewed efforts on the pan of its editor; 

 which will, however, be of liide avail, without the cooperation of its 

 friends. 



Even England had no Journal of Science till about the beginning 

 of the present century ; it is, therefore, encouraging that the first at- 

 tempts in this country, made only a few years later, have been, thus 

 far, sustained by the American public. 



Still, every periodical work must, occasionally, recruit its number 

 of subscribers, or it will fall into jeopardy. The American Journal 

 is not yet in immediate danger, but, its subscription is far too limited 

 to enable it to do all the good of which such a work is capable ; and 

 after a considerable 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 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 persever- 

 ance. Avoiding all local, personal, political and sectarian interests and 

 excitements, it thus entirely foregoes the support afforded by popu- 

 lar feeling, and therefore relies, us it has a full right to do, solely, 

 upon the intelligent, the interested, the patriotic, and the philan- 

 thropic. 



For the support of such a work, it is worse than useless, to resort 

 to indiscriminate solicitations. The transient subscriptions, obtained 

 in that manner, will produce only a delusive expectation of support, 

 and a certain increase of expense. 



Such persons, therefore, and such only, should be addressed, as, 

 from their considerate and correct estimation of the value of useful 

 knoioledge, or from their interests and taste, will probably become per- 

 manent patrons. 



rROSPECTX^S. 



In 1810, 11 and 12, the late Dr. Bruce, of New York, published 

 his Journal of Mineralogy and Geology in one volume of four num- 

 bers. 



The American Journal, was, however, the first, that in this coun- 

 try, embraced in its plan, the entire circle of the Physical Sciences, 



