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



In 1826, when the Journal was in great need of financial sup- 

 port, the Academy further voted to pay for a year the cost of 

 printing such of its papers as might be published in it. In 

 Baldwin's Annals of Yale College, published in 1831, it is 

 described as a publication "honorable to the science of our 

 common country," and having "an additional value as being 

 adopted as the acknowledged organ of the Connecticut Academy 

 of Arts and Sciences." 



Many active campaigns were carried on over the 

 country through paid agents to obtain new subscribers 

 for the Journal and it was doubtless due to these efforts 

 that the nominal subscription list was, at times, as 

 already noted, relatively large as compared with that of a 

 later date. The new subscribers in many cases, however, 

 did not remain permanently interested, often failed to 

 pay their bills, and the uncertain and varying demand 

 upon the supply of printed copies was doubtless one 

 reason why many single numbers became early out of 

 print. 



An interesting sidelight is thrown upon the efforts of 

 Silliman to interest the public in his work, at its begin- 

 ning, by a letter to the editor from Thomas Jefferson, 

 then seventy-five years of age. The writer is indebted to 

 Mr. Robert B. Adam of Buffalo for a copy of this letter 

 and its interest justifies its being reproduced here entire. 

 The letter is as follows : 



Monticello, Apr. 11. '18. 

 Sir 



The unlucky displacement of your letter of Mar 3 has been 

 the cause of delay in my answer, altho' I have very generally 

 withdrawn from subscribing to or reading periodical publica- 

 tions from the love of rest which age produces, yet I willingly 

 subscribe to the journal you propose from a confidence that the 

 talent with which it will be edited will entitle it to attention 

 among the things of select reading for which alone I have time 

 now left, be so good as to send it by mail, and the receipt of 

 the 1st number will be considered as announcing that the work 

 is commenced and the subscription money for a year shall be 

 forwarded. Accept the assurance of my great esteem and 

 respect. 



Th. Jefferson 



Professor Silliman. 



