THE AMERICAN QUARTERLY REGISTER. CONDUCTED BY B. B. EDWARDS AND W. COGSWELL. VOL. X. PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY. BOSTON: PRINTED BY PERKINS & MARVIN. 1838. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by WILLIAM COGSWELL, Secretary of the American Education Society, in behalf of said Society, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY Period. 61 V.10 1837-1838 PREFACE TO VOLUME X. THERE are various associations in this country which have for their principal object to promote the study of the antiquities of the United States; to collect, embody and diffuse information on a great variety of important subjects. Among the foremost of these are the Historical Societies which have been formed in a number of States, and some of which enjoy a vigorous existence, and are producing the happiest results. The American Antiquarian Society at Worcester are enlarging their sphere of operations, and augmenting the precious relics of former times. The State of Massachusetts, under the auspices of the present enlightened governor, are doing much to rescue the records of the past from neglect and decay. The Rev. Joseph B. Felt, a learned antiquary, who has been compelled by infirmity to desist from his ministerial functions, has been for many months employed upon the time-worn documents in the State House. A large number of ponderous folios, with papers well classified and arranged, and substantially bound, attest his industry and good judgment. The labors of the Secretary of State, John P. Bigelow, Esq., are particularly valuable, both as it respects the direct results of his own investigations, and the urbane manner in which he assists other inquirers. In the mean time the government of the United States are not idle, though much less has been accomplished than is desirable. An elaborate memorial on the subject of statistics was presented to the Senate of the United States some months since, by professor Lieber of the College of South Carolina. We do not learn that there has yet been any action on the memorial. The Hon. Henry L. Ellsworth, commissioner of patents, has presented to Congress some valuable papers. Various committees of both branches have occasionally done themselves the honor of elucidating important subjects of general statistical interest. In the same field there. are a few individuals scattered over the country, whose solitary and unaided toils are worthy of all praise and encouragement. In our humble way, we propose, in the pages of the American Quarterly Register, to aid this great cause. Something has been already accomplished; but more inviting fields lie before us, into which we have hardly entered. Many things in relation to the United States yet remain unattempted or incomplete. We hope, in the next volume, to enrich our pages with an alphabetical catalogue of all the college graduates out of New England. Important medical and legal statistics are in a course of preparation. Greater and greater accuracy and fullness will be attained in our ecclesiastical researches. The investigation of one branch frequently throws unexpected light on another, or suggests new topics of inquiry. We have recently received from our correspondents in Great Britain important reports and documents concerning the various seminaries of the Dissenters -as well as the ancient universities. We shall make use of some of these papers in our next volume. Elaborate papers relating to most of the continental nations will be supplied by the Rev. Robert Baird. The religious and educational statistics of some of these nations are but little known even in Europe. In the mean time we shall not forget one great object of this publication -the promotion of ministerial education-the raising up, with the blessing of Heaven, a numerous, learned and holy ministry, until all the waste places of the earth shall become like the garden of the Lord. BOSTON, April 30, 1838. |