tutes what is called the natural method. The more complete this method is, the more are we enabled, upon seeing a subject, to determine its place and name, and, on the contrary,' upon being told the name of a subject to infer the most important facts in its nature and history. In some species of of plants for example certain characters of the flower and fruit always indicate a farinaceous vegetable, and in others a poisonous one, &c.

But it is utterly impossible to reach this perfection of ar rangement in every part of creation, and particularly in the vegetable kingdom, where the general properties are so uniform, and the peculiar properties so various and minute. Here it is necessary to adopt an artificial system that is a division, the distinctions of which are taken from circumstances, selected for the purpose of arrangement only; and not on account of their relative importance. By such a method we discriminate and express with perfect precision all the tribes, families, and individuals of the immense multitude of plants. The parts of fructification furnish the distinctive marks, on which the received system is founded, under the auspices of the great master of arrangement, Linnæus. From the number, situation, proportion, and other circumstances, attending these parts, are derived classes, orders, and genera.

An institution for Natural History and Botany in particular must have it first in view to provide for a knowledge of the nomenclature of the science; and to enable us to determine to what object in nature the names, employed by naturalists, belong. Having secured this essential and preliminary aim, it may be extended to giving and procuring information concerning the plants, peculiar to our own country; to the forming of a flora Americana, or Novanglica; and to whatever respects the variety, the structure, growth, relations, and uses of vegetable substances. A knowledge of the artificial system will afford a great facility in finding out the natural divisions. We may then enlarge our views, and exalt our sentiments, by observing the relations of cause and

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effect, and the doctrine of harmonies and contrasts in the natural world, and particularly in the vegetable kingdom. A botanic garden, designed as much, as possible to contain "in narrow room nature's whole wealth," with a Professor to explain its contents, provides for that instruction, which will enable us to survey the fields and the woods with new eyes, and to describe what we survey. Such an institution is requisite for aiding the observations and experiments of the chemist, the physician, and the farmer. A museum, or cabinet of Natural History, properly furnished and arranged, is not merely an object of curiosity, but a valuable help of science and of art. Uninteresting as the subject of natural history may appear to the ambitious or busy part of mankind, many things might be said to show its solid advantages not less, than its pleasures; and to establish the benefit of this knowledge both to the student himself and to the community, of which he is a member. We have great reason to be grati

fied, that the liberality of munificent individuals has provided an institution for this purpose, connected with our university, which is just commencing under very favorable auspices.

"Whilst the last age produced much new light in the "philosophy of natural history, and added immense riches to "its former stores, it also gave to this science new distinction, "as an object of study in seminaries of learning. At the "close of the seventeenth century, it is believed, few profes"sorships had been instituted, even in the most distinguish"ed universities, for instructing youth in this interesting department of knowledge. Since that time few important "colleges or universities have failed to add such professorship "to their former plans of instruction, and to place Natural, "History among the indispensable objects of attention in an

academic course. By these and other means new honors "have been bestowed on this branch of science, new en"couragement given to the zeal and exertions of inquirers, "new roads to improvement opened, and new opportunities "afforded at once of diffusing a taste for the investigations "of this nature, and of extending the information, which

genius and industry had gained.' During this period many respectable foreigners have directed their curiosity and labors to the object of ascertaining and describing the natural productions of our country, and we boast of some native citizens, who have done much in the same field. But it is not "by individual, unconnected, and transient attentions, that any 66 considerable be made in such an immense range progress can "of pursuit. The uniform, unremitted, and systematic ef"forts of a respectable and competent establishment are ne66 cessary." Under these impressions several gentlemen, among whom the late Judge Lowell was principal, a few years since, formed the design of raising a fund for such an establishment to be connected with Harvard College. One of the medical Professors, Dr. Waterhouse, had for a considerable time given annually a course of lectures upon this science to such of the undergraduates, as chose to attend, which had been very favorably received, and contributed to increase the general desire for a foundation, adequate to the support of a professorship of Natural History, with a Botanic Garden and Museum. The scheme is at length accomplished. A plan for the foundation of the Massachusetts professorship of Natural History at Harvard College, having been agreed upon by the subscribers, and approved and assented to by the bodies required; the institution is begun under such circumstances, as promise its success. The establishment is considered in two aspects; one relating to the college; the other to the public at large. Corresponding to these two views, it is partly entrusted to the direction of the President and Fellows of Harvard College, and partly to a Board of Visitors, composed of the President of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the President of the College, and the President of the Massachusetts Medical Society, with the twelve trustees of the Massachusetts Society for promoting Agriculture. A Botanic Garden is to be established, when a suitable situation is procured; and a cabinet of Natural History, when circumstances shall admit or require. The Professor is to give an annual course of lectures on Botany and Entomology to such students of the * Vid. Miller's Retrospect, vol. i, p. 113.

University and to such others, as may be permitted to attend. The duties of the Professor may be enlarged, as shall be found practicable and expedient; or any portion of the funds, which can be spared, may be applied to the compensation of any other person, authorized by the government of the college to teach other branches of Natural History. The Professor, William Dandridge Peck A. M. A. 4. s. will be inducted on the 14 of May, after which he will embark for Europe, with a view of visiting the principal institutions of a similar kind in Great Britain, France, and Sweden. mean time proper exertions will be made to prepare tablishment for him to commence the duties of his office immediately after his return.

In the the es

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

SAMUEL F. BRADFORD of Philadelphia has issued proposals for publishing Dr. Rees' "New Cyclopædia" in twenty volumes 4to. Dr. Rees was the editor of the last edition of

Chambers' Dictionary." This Dictionary is the ground work of his Cyclopedia, which comprehends the various articles of Chambers' with additions and improvements, together, with new subjects of biography, geography, and history. The edition, now offered, is said to be improved, and adapted to this country by gentlemen of known abilities, whose aid will render it the most complete work of the kind, that has yet appeared. It is proposed to furnish subscribers with a half volume once in two months at the price of three dollars, containing from four to five hundred pages each.

We are pleased to find, that American biography claims a share of the editor's attention, and that he gives such strong assurances, that the treatment of the subject will exhibit some de gree of originality.

From the specimens, we have seen, of Philadelphia printing and engraving as well, as from the enterprise and industry of the gentlemen of the type in that city, we have reason to hope, that this work will not be deficient either in accuracy, or elegance of

execution.

Of the comparative value of this Cyclopædia we may form some opinion from the celebrity of the last edition of Chambers, It was such, that Dr. Rees first intended a supplement only to that valuable work. We observe likewise several eminent names

among the contributors to the Cyclopædia; such as Woodville, the Aikins, Donovan, Pearson, &c. The Monthly Review for April 1803, when the work was not far advanced, though giving no decisive opinion from the specimens produced, predicted in it a valuable acquisition to literature and science.

The execution of so large a work in this country must be attended with considerable risk and much previous expense; but, if it answer the favorable expectations, we have reason to indulge, the editor will deserve well of the community, and we trust receive a recompence.

IT is gratifying to the true friends of their country, that they are every day becoming less dependent on foreign importations for valuable editions of books. Our artists can certainly publish as well, as English printers, and during the existence of the present high taxes on paper in England, they can publish cheaper. Johnson's Dictionary is a treasure, which few are able to acquire, but which every scholar is proud to possess, We are happy to find proposals, issued by Mr. James Humphries of Philadelphia, for publishing it in 4 vols. royal octavo, upon the plan of the London edition, with a life of the author, by J. Aiken M. D. He promises that his shall equal the London edition, and be delivered complete for 18 dollars, while that cannot be procured under 40 doll.

MR. JAMES HUMPHRIES has in the press "the history, civil and commercial of the British colonies in the West Indies,' by Bryan Edwards, F.R.S. This work has obtained very considerable celebrity, and a new edition, with a 3d volume, completed just before the author's death, has lately been published in London. It is an interesting work to the merchant, the historian, and the naturalist. And, if the American edition prove less splen did than the English, it will have the recommendation of being cheaper.

MR. ANGIER MARCH has proposed publishing the writ ings of Mrs. Anne Steele in three vol. 12mo. They consist of poems chiefly devotional; and their excellence is unquestionable! Those, which have appeared in Dr. Belknap's collection of Psalms and Hymns breathe a spirit of animated devotion, and are a sufficient pledge of Mrs. Steele's superiority in that species of composition.

WE have just met with the memoirs of the life, writings, and correspondence of Sir William Jones, by Lord Teignmouth, öne vol. 8vo, first American edition. The interest, which lit