Benjamin Silliman

“ 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. ”

“ THE importance of observations on the annual progress of vegetation is obvious, and, as connected with agriculture, gardening, &.c., eminently useful. Comparative observations acquire a particular degree of interest, when made by skilful observers, at the same time, but at different places. ”

“ 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 ”

“ IT is to be presumed that every person who has paid any attention to the mechanical inventions of this country, or has looked over the history of her revolutionary war, has heard of the machine invented by David Bushnell, for submarine navigation, and the destruction of hostile shipping. ”

“ Floral Calendars kept in various parts of the United States would afford very interesting information, as to the changes of climate in particular places; a common topic of popular remark, but generally with few and inaccurate data. ”

“ The blossoming of plants is easily watched, but their foliation and budding ought not to be neglected. Having been prevented, by various causes, from keeping an exact record of the progress of vegetation near New-York in 1817, I submit an accurate journal which I had kept the year before, at Philadelphia, in which I hope that some interesting facts may be noticed. ”

“ 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. ”

“ That there are many facts which cannot readily be explained by the theory of light, I shall not deny; but in the infancy of this system we may be allowed to hope that future observations may enable us to remove present difficulties. ”

“ 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. ”

“ There was no appearance of vegetation until the last of March, when were observed several cylindrical leaves, some of them evidently arose from bulbs which had formed the last summer, on account of the dryness of its situation, which frequently occurs when plants are removed from a moist to a dry situation. ”

“ By vigorous turning of the crank, says my informer, the machine could be propelled at the rate of about three miles an hour in still water. When beyond the reach of danger, or observation of an enemy, the machine was suffered to float with its head just rising from the water's surface, and while in this situation, air was constantly admitted through three small orifices in the head, which were closed when a descent was commenced.
The efficient part of this engine of devastation, its magazine, remains to be spoken of. This was separate and distinct from the machine. ”

“ As the refraction of the atmosphere in the polar circles, is at least ten times greater than in the tropics, a greater quantity of the magnetic rays will there be separated and combined than elsewhere; and of course arises excess of magnetism. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The great absorption and emission of light in the polar regions, by the ice and snow, may cause the extraordinary illumination of that country during the absence of the sun, and the emission of the magnetic rays with electricity may, perhaps, give us the aurora borealis. ”

“ In other instances single cylindrical leaves arose from the earth, where no bulbs were to be found; these cylindrical leaves were thought to arise from seeds, which, if it was a fact, would prove that the plant vegetated with but one cotyledon. In a short time the vessel was crowded with the seeds of the limosella raised by the cotyledons. ”

“ 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 ”

“ Art. IX. Description of a Machine, invented and constructed by David Bushnell, a native of Saybrook, at the commencement of the American revolutionary war, for the purpose of submarine navigation, and for the destruction of ships of war; with an account of the first attempt with it, in August 1776, by Ezra Lee, a sergeant in the American army, to destroy some of the British ships then lying at New-York. ”

“ 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.
2 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 ”

“ The frogs begin to croak. Found in blossom near Cambden, Arabis rotundifolia, Raf., A. lyrata, Saxifraga virginica, Draba verna ? Betula lenta, &c. Pinus inops is budding.
3.
Seen the first swallow. Found in blossom on the Schuylkill, Fumaria cucullaria, Anemone thalictroides, Saxifraga virginica, many ferns and mosses.
4.
The fresh-water turtle (Testudo picta) begins to show itself. ”

“ But such an account as I have mentioned, must derive an additional value, and an increased interest from the fact, that all the information contained in the following pages, has been received from the only person in existence possessed of that information, and who was the very same that first embarked in this novel and perilous navigation. ”

“ 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. ”

“ He next paddled along to a different part of her bottom, but in this manoeuvre he made a deviation, and instantly arose to the water's surface on the east side of the ship, exposed to the increasing light of the morning, and in imminent hazard of being discovered. He immediately made another descent, with a view of making one more trial, but the fast approach of day, which would expose him to the enemy's boats, and render his escape difficult, if not impossible, deterred him ”

“ 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 ”

“ The grass looks quite green; the Draba verna? is in blossom in the State-House garden, the Viburnum tinus, Primula acaulis, &c. in the rooms, &c. The following fish are at market: white perch (Perca mucronata, Raf.) , yellow perch (Polyprion fasciatum, Raf.) , mamoose sturgeon (Accipenser marginatus, Raf.) , elk-oldwives (Sparus crythrops, Raf.) , &c.
15.
The Populus fastigiata, Lombardy poplar, begins to show its catkins.
17.
The big-eye herring (Clupea megalops) begin to be seen at the fish-market.
18.
Many plants begin to grow and show their leaves. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”