Dana — American Journal of Science, 1818-1918. 15 



ton" was not an inappropriate place for the inauguration 

 of an enterprise also great in its results for the country. 

 In the preface to the concluding volume of the First 

 Series (loc. cit.) Silliman adds the following remarks 

 which show his natural modesty at the thought of under- 

 taking so serious a work. He says : 



Although a different selection of an editor would have been 

 much preferred, and many reasons, public and personal, con- 

 curred to produce diffidence of success, the arguments of Col. 

 Gibbs, whose views on subjects of science were entitled to the 

 most respectful consideration, and had justly great weight, 

 being pressed with zeal and ability, induced a reluctant assent; 

 and accordingly, after due consultation with many competent 

 judges, the proposals were issued early in 1818, embracing the 

 whole range of physical science and its applications. The 

 Editor in entering on the duty, regarded it as an affair for life, 

 and the thirty years of experience which he has now had, have 

 proved that his views of the exigencies of the service were not 

 erroneous. 



The plan with which the editor began his work and the 

 lines laid down by him at the outset can only be made 

 clear by quoting entire the "Plan of the Work" which 

 opens the first number. It seems desirable also to give 

 this in its original form as to paragraphs and typog- 

 raphy. The first page of the cover of the opening num- 

 ber has also been reproduced here. It will be seen that 

 the plan of the young editor was as wide as the entire 

 range of science and its applications and extended out to 

 music and the fine arts. This seems strange to-day, but 

 it must be remembered how few were the organs of pub- 

 lication open to contributors at the time. If the plan 

 was unreasonably extended, that fact is to be taken not 

 only as an expression of the enthusiasm of the editor, as 

 yet inexperienced in his work, but also of the time when 

 the sciences were still in their infancy. 



He says (1, pp. v, vi) : 



"PLAN OF THE WORK. 



This Journal is intended to embrace the circle of The Phys- 

 ical Sciences, with their application to The Arts, and to every 

 useful purpose. 



It is designed as a deposit for original American communica- 

 tions; but will contain also occasional selections from Foreign 

 Journals, and notices of the progress of science in other coun- 

 tries. Within its plan are embraced 



