WILLIAM MACLURE. 21 



tern which seemed to promise something for human 

 advantage, resolved to establish, in the same locality, 

 his proposed Agricultural School. He did not, at the 

 same time, adopt all the peculiar views of this fugi- 

 tive community, to many of which, in fact, he was 

 decidedly opposed: but he consented to compromise 

 a part of his own opinions in order to accomplish, in 

 his own phrase, u the greatest good for the greatest 

 number." For this purpose he forwarded to New 

 Harmony his private library, philosophical instru- 

 ments and collections in Natural History, designing, 

 by these and other means, to make that locality the 

 centre of education in the West. That the Social 

 scheme was speedily and entirely abortive, is a fact 

 familiar to every one; but Mr. Maclure having pur- 

 chased extensive tracts of land in the town and 

 vicinity of New Harmony, continued to reside there 

 for several years, in the hope of bringing his school 

 into practical operation. 



In leaving Philadelphia for New Harmony, Mr. 

 Maclure induced several distinguished naturalists to 

 bear him company, as coadjutors in his educational 

 designs: and among them were Mr. Say, Mr. Le- 

 sueur, Dr. Troost, and a few others, who had already 

 earned an enviable scientific reputation. 



For various reasons, which need not be discussed 

 in this place, the School did not fulfil the expectations 



