The American Journal of Science/Series 1, Volume 1/Introductory Remarks

by Benjamin Silliman

THE

AMERICAN

JOURNALOFSCIENCE, &c.

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INTRODUCTORYREMARKS.

THE  age in which we live is not less distinguished by a vigorous and successful cultivation of physical science, than by its numerous and important applications to the practical arts, and to the common purposes of life.

In every enlightened country, men illustrious for talent, worth, and knowledge, are ardently engaged in enlarging the boundaries of natural science; and the history of their labours and discoveries is communicated to the world chiefly through the medium of Scientific Journals.   The utility of such Journals has thus become generally evident; they are the heralds of science; they proclaim its toils and its achievements; they demonstrate its intimate connexion as well with the comfort, as with the intellectual and moral improvement of our species; and they often procure for it enviable honours and substantial rewards.

In England the interests of science have been, for a series of years, greatly promoted by the excellent Journals of Tilloch and Nicholson; and for the loss of the latter, the scientific world has been fully compensated by Dr. Thomson's Annals of Philosophy, and by the Journal of Science and the Arts, both published in London.

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In France, the Annales de Chimie et de Physique, the Journal des Mines, the Journal de Physique, &c. have long enjoyed a high and deserved reputation.   Indeed, there are few countries in Europe which do not produce some similar publication; not to mention the transactions of learned societies and numerous medical Journals.

From these scources our country reaps, and will long continue to reap, an abundant harvest of information: and if the light of science, as well as of day, springs from the east, we will welcome the rays of both; nor should national pride induce us to reject so rich an offering.

But can we do nothing in return?   In a general diffusion of useful information through the various classes of society, in activity of intellect, and fertility of resource and invention, characterizing a highly intelligent population, we have no reason to shrink from a comparison with any country.  But the devoted cultivators of science, in the United States, are comparatively few; they are, however, rapidly increasing in number.  Among them are persons distinguished for their capacity and attainments, and notwithstanding the local feelings nourished by our state sovereignties, and the rival claims of several of our larger cities, there is evidently a predisposition towards a concentration of effort, from which we may hope for the happiest results, with regard to the advancement of both the science and the reputation of our country.

Is it not, therefore, desirable to furnish some rallying point, some object sufficiently interesting to be compassed by common efforts, and thus to become the basis of an enduring, common interest?   To produce these efforts, and to excite this interest, nothing, perhaps, bids fairer than a Scientific Journal.  Hitherto nearly all our exertions, of this kind, have been made by medical gentlemen, and directed primarily to medical objects.  We are neither ignorant nor forgetful of the merits of our various Medical Journals, nor of the zeal with which, as far as consistent with their main object, they have fostered the physical sciences.  We are aware, also, that Journals have been established, professedly deriving their materials principally from foreign sources; that our various literary Magazines and Reviews have given, and continue to give, some notices of physical and mathematical subjects, and that some of them seem even partial to these branches of knowledge: that various limited efforts have been made, and are still making, to publish occasional or periodical papers, devoted to mathematical or physical subjects, and that even our newspapers sometimes contain scientific intelligence.  We are aware, also, that some of our academies and societies of natural history, either in Journals of their own, or through the medium of existing magazines, communicate to the public the efforts of their members in various branches of natural science.

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But all these facts go only to prove the strong tendency which exists in this country towards the cultivation of physical science, and the inadequacy of the existing means for its effectual promulgation.

Although our limits do not permit us, however much inclined, to be more particular in commemorating the labours and in honouring the performances (often marked by much ability) of our predecessors and cotemporaries, there is one effort which we are not willing to pass by without a more particular notice; and we are persuaded that no apology is necessary for naming the Journal of the late Dr. Bruce, of New-York, devoted principally to mineralogy and geology.

No future historian of American science will fail to commemorate this work as our earliest purely scientific Journal, supported by original American communications.

Both in this country and in Europe, it was received in a very flattering manner; it excited, at home, great zeal and effort in support of the sciences which it fostered, and, abroad, it was hailed as the harbinger of our future exertions.   The editor was honoured with letters on the subject of his Journal, and with applications for it from most of the countries in Europe; but its friends had to regret that, although conducted in a manner perfectly to their satisfaction, it appeared only at distant intervals, and, after the lapse of several years, never proceeded beyond the fourth number.

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The hopes of its revival have now, unhappily, become completely extinct, by the lamented death of Dr. Bruce.*

* I trust the public will pardon me for stating, that various scientific friends, despairing of the revival of the Journal of Dr. Bruce, had, for some time, pressed me to undertake the editing of a Journal of Science.   Considerations of personal friendship prevented me from listening to such proposals till the decline of Dr. Bruce's health, attended by the most alarming symptoms, rendered it very obvious that his Journal would not be revived.  Towards the close of last November, in a personal interview, I communicated to him the design of the present work, at the same time offering to waive it, provided he considered it as probable that his own Journal would be resumed.  Of this, however, he gave no encouragement; but, on the contrary, expressed his warm approbation of my undertaking, authorized me to consider him as a contributor, and to make public use of his name as a patron.  It was not till after this that the annunciation of this work took place; and it is certain that had not all hope of the resumption of Dr. Bruce's Journal been completely cut off, this would not have appeared.

This gentleman, with an accomplished education, with extensive acquirements in science, and great zeal for promoting it in his own country; advantageously and extensively known in Europe, and furnished with a correct and discriminating mind, and a chaste, scientific taste, was so well qualified for the task which he had undertaken, that no one can attempt to resume those scientific labours which he has now for ever relinquished, without realizing that he undertakes an arduous enterprise, and lays himself under a heavy responsibility.   American science has much to lament in the death of Dr. Bruce.

No one, it is presumed, will doubt that a Journal devoted to science, and embracing a sphere sufficiently extensive to allure to its support the principal scientific men of our country, is greatly needed; if cordially supported, it will be successful, and if successful, it will be a great public benefit.

Even a failure, in so good a cause, (unless it should arise from incapacity or unfaithfulness,) cannot be regarded as dishonourable.   It may prove only that the attempt was premature, and that our country is not yet ripe for such an undertaking; for without the efficient support of talent, knowledge, and money, it cannot long proceed.  No editor can hope to carry forward such a work without the active aid of scientific and practical men; but, at the same time, the public have a right to expect that he will not be sparing of his own labour, and that his work shall be generally marked by the impress of his own hand.  To this extent the editor cheerfully acknowledges his obligations to the public; and it will be his endeavour faithfully to redeem his pledge.

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Most of the periodical works of our country have been shortlived.   This, also, may perish in its infancy; and if any degree of confidence is cherished, that it will attain a maturer age, it is derived from the obvious and intrinsic importance of the undertaking; from its being built upon permanent and momentous national interests; from the evidence of a decided approbation of the design, on the part of men of the first eminence, obtained in the progress of an extensive correspondence; from assurances of support, in the way of contributions, from men of ability in many parts of the union; and from the existence of such a crisis in the affairs of this country and of the world, as appears peculiarly auspicious to the success of every wise and good undertaking.

As regards the subjects of this work, it is in our power to do much in the department of the natural history of this country.   Our Zoology has been more fully investigated than our mineralogy and botany; but neither department is in danger of being exhausted.  The interesting travels of Lewis and Clark have recently brought to our knowledge several plants and animals before unknown.  Foreign naturalists frequently explore our territory; and, for the most part, convey to Europe the fruits of their researches, while but a small part of our own productions is examined and described by Americans: certainly, this is little to our credit, and still less to our advantage.  Honourable exceptions to the truth of this remark are furnished by the exertions of some gentlemen in our principal cities, and in various other parts of the Union.*

* The efforts of Stephen Elliott, Esq. of South Carolina, in regard to the botany of the Southern States, are particularly worthy of imitation and praise.

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Our botany, it is true, has been extensively and successfully investigated; but this field is still rich, and rewards every new research with some interesting discovery.   Our mineralogy, however, is a treasure but just opened.  That both science and art may expect much advantage from this source, is sufficiently evinced by the success which has crowned the active efforts of a few ardent cultivators of this science: several new species of minerals have been added to it in this country; great numbers of American localities discovered, and interesting additions made to our materials, for the useful and ornamental arts.  The science of mineralogy is now illustrated by courses of lectures, and by several good cabinets in the different states.  Among the cabinets, the splendid collection of Colonel Gibbs, now in Yale College, (a munificent deposit for the benefit of his country,) stands pre-eminent: it would be considered as a very noble cabinet in any part of Europe: and its introduction into the United States, and its gratuitous dedication to the promotion of science, are equally advantageous to the community, and honourable to its patriotic and enlightened proprietor.  Mineralogy is most intimately connected with our arts, and especially with our agriculture.

Such are the disguises worn by many most useful mineral substances, that an unskilful observer is liable to pass a thing by, as worthless, which, if better informed, he would seize with avidity; and, still more frequently, a worthless substance, clothed perhaps in a brilliant and attractive exterior, excites hopes altogether delusive, and induces expense, without a possibility of remuneration.   A diffusion of correct knowledge on this subject is the only adequate remedy for either evil.

Our geology, also, presents a most interesting field of inquiry.   A grand outline has recently been drawn by Mr. Maclure, with a masterly hand, and with a vast extent of personal observation and labour: but to fill up the detail, both observation and labour still more extensive are demanded; nor can the object be effected, till more good geologists are formed, and distributed over our extensive territory.