194 Mr. Butler's Discourse. 



tained, by establishing a journal of instruction, wisely adapted 

 to the ends proposed, and by placing its management under 

 such auspices as will not only secure public confidence in 

 regard to the general ability with which it shall be conducted, 

 but effectually preclude the operation of any political or secta- 

 rian influence. Such a journal is hardly to be expected from 

 individual enterprise ; and though a voluntary association 

 might easily be formed which for a season would conduct it 

 with success ; yet the want of a fixed and permanent body to 

 whom it could be committed, would greatly diminish, and pro- 

 bably soon destroy, its usefulness. 



The central position of our society ; the perpetuity of our 

 charter ; the fact that the members of the legislature are ex 

 officii* members of the Institute, and the connexion with 

 the public authorities which result therefrom ; our organiza- 

 tion into separate departments; the varied sentiments of our 

 members upon political and religious subjects, all combine to 

 make the Albany Institute the proper body to undertake the 

 publication of such a journal. I am persuaded that we could 

 do so with little inconvenience to ourselves, and with great 

 advantage to the public. And I therefore 'beg permission to 

 lay before you the outlines of a plan for the accomplishment 

 of this object. I would respectfully propose, that the Insti- 

 tute should publish a " Journal of Instruction," either semi- 

 monthly or weekly, as may be deemed most expedient, to be 

 exclusively devoted to the improvement of the common schools. 

 Convenient portions of each number to be appropriated, 1st, 

 to the useful arts and the physical sciences ; 2d, to natural 

 history, and 3d, to history and general literature, including a 

 summary of scientific intelligence both foreign and domestic; 

 one of these portions to be assigned to the corresponding de- 

 partment of the Institute, and each to be filled with such ar- 

 ticles, original and selected, as should be prepared by com- 

 mittees to be appointed by the departments from time to time, 

 as may be deemed most expedient. The labor of preparing 

 the matter for the several portions of the paper, would not 

 only be divided, but it could not be arduous; for independently 

 of the useful works constantly issuing from the press, the re- 

 views, and magazines, journals and newspapers published in 



