Dana — American Journal of Science, 1818-1918. 21 



world without an introductory note, but he yields to the impulse 

 already expressed, and to the established usages of respectful 

 courtesy to the public, which a short preface seems to imply. 

 He has now persevered almost five years, in an undertaking, 

 regarded by many of the friends whom he originally consulted, 

 as hazardous, and to which not a few of them prophetically 

 alloted only an ephemeral existence. It has been his fortune to 

 prosecute this work without, (till a very recent period,) returns, 

 adequate to its indispensable responsibilities; — under a heavy 

 pressure of professional and private duty; with trying fluctua- 

 tions of health, and amidst severe and reiterated domestic 

 afflictions. The world are usually indulgent to allusions of this 

 nature, when they have any relation to the discharge of public 

 duty; and in this view, it is with satisfaction, that the Editor 

 adds, that he has now to look on formidable difficulties, only in 

 retrospect, and with something of the feeling of him, who sees 

 a powerful and vanquished foe, slowly retiring, and leaving a 

 field no longer contested. 



This Journal which, from the first, was fully supplied with 

 original communications, is now sustained by actual payment, 

 to such an extent, that it may fairly be considered as an estab- 

 lished work ; its patronage is regularly increasing, and we trust 

 it will no longer justify such remarks as some of the following, 

 from the pen of one of the most eminent scientific men in 

 Europe. ' ' Nothing surprises me more, than the little encourage- 

 ment which your Journal," ("which I always read with very 

 great interest, and of which I make great use,") "experiences 

 in America — this must surely arise from the present depressed 

 condition of trade, and cannot long continue. ' ' 



Six years more of uninterrupted editorial work passed 

 by, the sixteenth volume was completed, and the editor 

 was now in a position to review the whole situation up to 

 1829. This preface (dated July 1, 1829), which is quoted 

 nearly in full, cannot fail to be found particularly inter- 

 esting and from several standpoints, not the least for the 

 insight it gives into the writer's mind. It is also note- 

 worthy that at this early date it was found possible to 

 pay for original contributions, a privilege far beyond 

 the means of the editor of to-day. 



When -this Journal was first projected, very few believed that 

 it would succeed. 



Among others, Dr. Dorsey wrote to the editor; "I predict a 

 short life for you, although I wish, as the Spaniards say, that 

 you may live a thousand years." The work has not lived a 

 thousand years, but as it has survived more than the hundredth 

 part of that period, no reason is apparent why it may not con- 



