284 
EDITORIAL. 
lars.  Opium,  Indigo,  and  Hydriodate  of  Potash,  were  the  favorite  articles, 
while  Prussian  Bine,  Liquorice.  Cochineal,  Gum  Arabic,  and  other  articles 
were  stolen  in  more  limited  quantities.  The  object  in  calling  attention  to 
the  subject  in  this  article  is,  to  express  in  the  strongest  terms  of  disapproba- 
tion, a  conviction  of  the  impropriety  of  dealers  buying  articles  from  unknown 
persons,  or  ihose  not  legitimately  engaged  in  the  business.  The  presump- 
tion is,  thai,  in  ninety-nine  cases  in  the  hundred,  goods  so  offered  are'dishon- 
estly  obtained,  especially  when  the  persons  are  willing  to  take  less  than  the 
market  price. 
"  The  receiver  is  as  bad  as  the  thief/'  and  in  some  instances  may  be 
worse.  Certain  it  is  that  the  putchasers  in  making  a  market  for  the  thief, 
furnish  an  inducement  for  him  to  steal.  If  thieves  and  their  accomplices 
could  find  nobody  willing  to  buy,  it  would  be  the  most  effective  means  of 
protecting  the  community. 
Persons  buying  goods  under  the  circumstances  that  have  been  alluded  to, 
justly  forfeit  the  confidence  of  honorable  men.  The  names  of  quite  a  num- 
ber of  individuals,  hitherto  of  good  standing,  to  whom  the  goods  stolen  from 
D.  L.  Miller,  Jr.,  can  be  distinctly  traced  as  having  been  sold,  are  known. 
That  some  have  purchased  thoughtlessly  there  can  be  no  doubt  ;  such  should 
make  immediate  restitution  to  the  owner.  The  resolution  to  abstain  wholly 
from  such  purchases  hereafter,  would  be  strengthened  by  the  recollection  of 
a  previous  loss.  There  are  few  things  much  more  mortifying  than  to  have 
one's  name  appear  in  the  details  of  the  trial  of  such  cases  of  theft,  as  pur- 
chasers of  articles  from  colored  laborers,  foreign  grocers  and  tavern-keep- 
ers, or  unknown  street-hawkers.  In  this  predicament,  it  is  not  improbable 
that  some  persons  may  find  themselves,  who,  by  failing  to  make  restitution, 
leave  the  presumption  that  they  are  willing  to  profit  by  such  depredations. 
A. 
National  Scientific  Exploratory  Expeditions. — It  is  gratifying  to 
observe  the  increasing  disposition  in  our  Government  to  send  exploring 
expeditions  to  South  America,  Africa,  and  the  great  West,  to  develope  the 
commercial  or  national  resources  of  those  countries,  and  open  new  fields 
for  the  merchant  and  the  emigrant.  The  immense  importance  of  attach- 
ing Scientific  Corps  to  these  parties  should  not  be  overloo  ked.  Of  the 
several  departments  of  Natural  History  none  have  so  strong  an  influence 
on  medicine  and  pharmacy  as  Botany,  and  it  is  very  desirable  that  the 
botanical  gentlemen  who  may  accompany  these  voyages  should  be  able  and 
disposed  to  profit  by  the  crude,  but  often  useful  remedies,  that  aboriginal 
sagacity  may  have  discovered  in  the  forests  and  fields  of  the  countries 
visited,  and  to  bring  with  them  abundant  specimens  for  experiment  at 
home. 
Tully's  Materia  Memca. — We  have  received  the  fourth  number  of  this 
work,  for  February.  "The  means  of  ascertaining  the  powers  of  new  and  pre- 
viously unknown  articles,"  are  continued,  through  their  natural  history  af- 
finities, sensible  properties  and  chemical  composition,  &c.  We  will  defer 
a  notice  of  its  contents  at  present. 
Our  Exchanges. — It  may  be  well  to  state  for  the  information  of  some  of 
our  Exchanges  who  are  in  the  habit  of  publishing  the  names  of  the  Editors 
