Within a few years, a new agent lias been introduced, whose 
powers imagination itself could hardly have calculated* It 
i( has developed the composition of substances, which the 
u profoundest research had regarded as simple,” and cer¬ 
tainly promises at no distant day to change the whole sys¬ 
tem of chemical philosophy. The progress of natural phi-. 
losofihy %las been unusually rapid. The measurement of the 
surface'of the earth, as well as of heights, has been effected 
with an accuracy before unknown. The recondite proper¬ 
ties of light and heat have been examined, and the existence 
of new planets ascertained. Werner and Klaproth in Ger¬ 
many, Kirwan in Britain, and Haiiy in France, have inves¬ 
tigated mineralogy and geology with uncommon success, and 
their disciples in every quarter of Europe, are pursuing these 
sciences with an ardour remarkable even among men, whose 
predominant passion is the love of knowledge. Natural his¬ 
tory has not been left without its votaries. To enlarge its 
boundaries, numerous voyages and travels have been un¬ 
dertaken, the earth has been circumnavigated, the deserts 
of Africa have been explored by Park, and the Andes as¬ 
cended by Humboldt. Through these means, the science 
of medicine has also been improved, and remedies of impor¬ 
tant value have been added from the vegetable, and mineral 
kingdoms. 
Those Arts which are styled useful , are immediately de* 
pendant on the above branches of information, and (as might 
be expected) have advanced with proportionate rapidity. 
Among the improvements may be mentioned, the invention 
of machinery, the discovery and application of chemical 
agents, and the developement of various processes which 
were formerly concealed from sordid or national views. 
With such a flood of light pouring on us from the old 
world, it surely becomes the duty of every one who desires 
his country’s prosperity, to direct it to the best advantage. 
Our resources must be investigated, and our ability to con¬ 
duct useful undertakings ascertained. If the establishment 
of manufactories is intended, it becomes a subject of pre¬ 
liminary enquiry, whether the number of hands required can 
