144 



To Readers and Corre. 



had produced them before his class, for the sole reason that they each had a sockets 

 Of this the note below is a convincing proof.* 



The number of the Franklin Institute, was put into the Editor's hands, when the last 

 page of his Journal was printing. Irritated at so open and undeserved an attack from 

 the pages of a Journal, lo which he had, as he has shown in a note of his last number, 

 endeavoured to be useful, he spoke of this Dr. Isaac Hays, as he thought he deserved to 

 be spoken of ; but if time for reflection had been given lo him, he should have preferred 

 to have suppressed some epithets he indulged in, in his anger, and have patiently waited 

 for a more favourable opportunity, of narrating the true history of this unpleasant contro- 

 versy, into which he has been compelled to enter. He wishes he had done so, and in 

 that wish he expresses an earnest hope, that he wall be excused by his subscribers, if any 

 of them thinks he has passed the bounds of decorum. They will perceive in this narra- 

 tive, that he has no slight grounds for believing there is a mahgnant conspiracy on the 

 part of a few active individuals, to iiinder the circulation of this Journal. This has been 

 attempted both in public and in private, without success ; the only instance where a sub- 

 scription to it has been discontinued, is that of the chairman before alluded to. There 

 have been a few instances of vindictive and scurrilous attacks in some of the newspapers : 

 these have been disregarded, because, considering the public press as an engine, hav- 

 ing a great influence upon writers, and the success they many endeavour to attain, the 

 Editor feels under a deep sense of gratitude to it, for the most unexpected, flattering, and 

 encouraging approbation he has received, from almost every distinguished paper in the 

 city and union.t It is his sincere desire to avoid all controversies ; he regrets having 

 been forced into this. Whilst it is a part of his duty to expose sciolism, pretension, and 

 every movement calculated to retard the progress of natural science, he admits that the 

 chief object he has proposed to himself in the establishment of this Journal, is the de- 

 velopement of American natural history and geology, and the doing justice to the talent 

 and learning of American writers on these interesting branches. He appeals to all that 

 he has hitherto published^ for the sincerity of his professions. He repeats the pledge con- 

 tained in his prospectus, that all " approved original papers from correspondents, bearing 

 the stamp of good sense, will be published upon convenient occasions." 



He has the satisfaction of informing his readers, that the subscriptions to this work, are 

 now become too numerous, to admit of the names being published, after this number. 



* I accompanied Mr. Featherstonhaugh when he selected two jaw bones of the mastodon 

 from the collection of the American Philosophical Society : they were selected, because each of 

 them, having an alveolar process or socket, Mr. F. intended by them, to illustrate the structure 

 of jaws of that class, and which, in conformity to his intentions, he did, during his lecture. 



fThe National Gazette is an exception amongst the city papers. In its columns the Monthly 

 American Journal, devoted to American natural history, has never been alluded to, although it 

 was, according to custom, presented to the Editor. 



We take very great pleasure in commending to the notice of the public, the Illinois 

 Monthly Magazine, pubhshed at Vandalia, in that State, and conducted by Mr. James Hall. 

 We frequently, after hurrying over the multifarious periodical literature of the day, turn to 

 its refreshing pages, which come upon our fatigued spirit, as its kindred breezes do, in 

 these canicular times, upon the face of nature, drooping imder excess of heat. The con- 

 tents of the last number we have received, for July, are very attractive, especially the 

 " Notes on Illinois," which we shall take an early opportunity of republishing. The 

 Gopher there mentioned as a non-descript, is the Geomys bursarius, or earth-rat, with 

 pouches, of Rafinesque. 



We have been favoured, by " A Subscriber," with a copy of Wood's Mosaic History^ 

 revised and improved by the Rev. J. P. Durbin, A. M., of Augusta College, Kentucky. 

 We shall hereafter notice this interesting work, and rejoice that geology possesses, in the 

 western States, so valuable and intelligent a friend as Mr. Durbin. 



Hie period of the delivery of this number, has been retarded by an 

 unexpected disappointment^ which obliged the Editor to substitute one arti- 

 cle for another^ and consequently to cause a different plate to be engraved. 



without inconvenience. 



Editor. 



RICHARD HARLAN, M. D. 



a w. F, 



