Translation of the count Lacepedes' Letter to D. B. Warden, &c. concerning the Fossil Bones, presented to the National Institute by the President of the United States. Dated Paris, 1st. Sept. 1808. SIR, I hastened to communicate to the Institute, in their sitting of Monday last, the letter which Mr. Jefferson was pleased to address, and which you had the complaisance to deliver to me. The Institute, penetrated with gratitude for this new mark of interest which its illustrious member has manifested, has resolved that an expression of thanks shall be solemnly addressed to him by its proper officers. It has also engaged me to testify to Mr. Jefferson the value it attaches to his attention. The Institute has decided, that the fossil bones and other objects of natural history, which Mr. Jefferson has had the goodness to put at its disposal, shall be placed in the museum of Natural History; the only place where the publick can conveniently and usefully examine this fine present of Mr. Jefferson. In consequence of this decision of the Institute, I shall immediately make known to my colleagues of the museum, what you have communicated to me, sir, concerning the arrival of these bones; and as they come by the river, from Havre, and are,by their nature, susceptible of being injured, perhaps you may think proper to debark them at the bridge of Austerlitz, at the northern gate of the garden of plants, across which these precious objects can be easily transported to the apartment destined for their reception. Accept, sir, the new assurance of all the sentiments you merit, as also the renewal of my thanks for all that you have been pleased to communicate to me, I have the honour to salute you. Signed, COUNT DE LACEPEDE. Monsieur Warden, Secretary of the American Legation. P. S. I shall have the honour of sending to you, according to your permis sion, my answer to your illustrious president. Ib. Kingsess Botanical Garden. In a former volume we had occasion to mention this establishment of one of the early and meritorious botanists of our country (Med. Repos. Hex. II. Vol. v. p. 302.) We observe that the Bartrams, father and son, descendants of the indefatigable man, who laboured for the royal society of London, and for several scientifick persons in Europe, have since that time printed a catalogue of the American indigenous plants growing under their care, and within their enclosures, in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia. Of these we observe that they enumerate three hundred and fifty six shrubs and trees, six hundred and thirty five herbaceous plants, sixty nine grasses, twenty palms and ferns, forty six mosses, and seventeen funguses, making in the whole eleven hundred and forty three species, besides unnumbered varieties of native vegetables, already cultivated in the garden of Kingsess. Their catalogue, which was published in 1807, contains also, the names of many exoticks thriving in their grounds. This establishment, it is said, was begun about fourscore years ago (1727) by the elder John Bartram, at a time when there were no establishments of that kind in Pennsylvania, if any in the colonies, except that of Dr. Clayton, in Virginia. Kingsess garden is situated on the west bank of the Schuylkill, four miles from Philadelphia, and comprehends about eight acres. The mansion and green houses are situated on an elevated spot, whence there is a gradual and easy descent to the river. On both sides, the country swells into hills of moderate height, and adds much to the convenience and beauty of the garden. From this delightful spot, the winding course of the Scuylkill, its extensive meadows, and highly improved farms for many miles, above and below; the junction it forms with the Delaware, and the latter crowded with vessels going to and from the city, are objects plain in sight, and upon which the eye dwells with singular pleasure. Beyond this, the Jersey shore terminates the view, and contributes with the other objects to give extent and variety, as well as richness to the scene. Several of the articles named in this list are but lately discovered, and have not yet been mentioned in transatlantick publications. These are named in the most proper manner that the authors could devise. We look for the eorrected and enlarged edition they promise: ль. Botanical Journal at Paris. In October, 1808, appeared in Paris, the first number of the Journal de Botanique, edited by a society of botanists, of whom Beauvois, Bonpland, Correa, Delongchamps, Desvaux, De Tussac, Thouars, Hanin, Dubuisson, St. Hilaire, Poiret, Persoon, and Sonnini, are the principal. Their design is to discuss botany at large, by examining every thing relative to the anatomy, physiology and pathology of plants, as to their classification and description; and without entering deeply into the agricultural, medicinal and economical uses of vegetables, their intention to lessen the dryness and sterility of the science, by dwelling upon the fitness of the different species and their parts, for food, physick, clothing, and the numberless ways by which they may be employed in the arts. We shall probably borrow from this promising work, in our future numbers, some of its valuable materials. is While on this subject, we seize the opportunity of laying before our readers, part of a letter from Mr. Desvaux to Dr. Mitchill, dated Paris, 15th. Nov. 1808, which for its politeness and liberality ought to be made known; "Botany is the science to which I am particularly devoted, and in which I intend to labour most for the future. But as it is indispensable to gather the greatest possible amount of materials, I expect from your complaisance as much assistance as your occupations will permit. There are many plants of the United States ready to your hand, that I do not as yet possess. You will oblige me, by sending specimens of them; because I can throw light upon their nomenclature, by means of the Herbarium of Michaux, which we have in Paris. For my own part I am labouring to give a Synopsis Plantarum, according to the method of M. de Jussieu. This estimable sçavant encourages me in this, and assists me with his counsel, his library, and his herbal. 66 If, on my part, sir, I could be useful to you, in case you should want the most rare and beautiful plants of Europe, it would be highly gratifying to me to send you a collection. My species already amount to between nine and ten thousand, and a great proportion of them are duplicates. I have a predilection for cryptogamous plants, grasses, cyperoids, legumes, and in general for all the families wherein there is the most to be done." If any of our American botanists can make a suitable exchange with Mr. Desvaux, a rich body of well arranged plants will be transferred to our side of the Atlantick; and that labourer in the field of science be the better enabled to conduct the periodical work in which he is engaged, by recording more fully the discoveries and announcing the progress of this interesting branch of natural history. Med. Repos. MESSRS. EDITORS, A work is about to issue from the press of T. B. Wait & Co. which will, no doubt, receive the cordial approbation and the liberal patronage of the friends of religion and the rising generation. It is entitled Sacred Extracts from the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, for the more convenient attainment of a knowledge of the inspired writers; for the use of schools and families. Presuming you will, at this late period, have but little room for a communication on this subject, it is merely stated, that the Sacred Extracts have been made under the auspices of the associated instructors of youth in Boston, by one of their number, and evince great care, judgment, and taste. The following passage, from the advertisement of the editor, will show the principles upon which the selection has been made. "He solemnly assures the readers of this volume, that, in exercising his judgment and taste respecting the passages best adapted to interest and instruct youth, he has most religiously endeavoured to avoid all bias in favour of any particular sect or opinion. He affects no indifference toward the several schemes, which are professedly derived from the sacred writings; but he conceived that this was not the place to allow his preference and convictions to appear. He has ever come to the task of preparing the copy for the press, under a lively sense that the ground was holy; and he has endeavoured to put off all prejudices and prepossessions. By such as examine it with a similar spirit, he rejoices in the persuasion that uprightness of views, and impartiality in execution will be allowed him and this will, as it ought, be more highly prized than any other commendation." Hudson and Goodwin, of Hartford, Con. propose to publish, in four volumes Poyal 8vo. Coke upon Littleton, with the notes of Hargrave and Butler, from the 15th. collated with the 13th. edition; with considerable improvements, by Thomas Day, Esq. and other professional gentlemen associated with him. Among the improvements contemplated, will be the correction of many mistaken references in the side margin of the commentary; the addition of the later authorities to the editorial notes; and an original and complete index to the whole work. The inaccuracy of many of the references placed against the commentary of Lord Coke was observed by Mr. Hargrave, but he declared the correction of them to be "a task far greater than his other avocations would allow him to engage in," and did not attempt it. The deficiency of the index has long been a subject of complaint with the whole profession, and did not escape the notice of Mr. Hargrave; but that laborious editor contented himself with remarking, "that having already undertaken so much, he thought it would be imprudent to pledge himself still further, by entering into any engagement for making additions to the index.". A correct, though not very copious, index, has since been made to the editorial notes; but that to the text of Littleton, and the commentary of Lord Coke, remains unaltered. The propriety of the publishers availing themselves of the opportunity afforded by a new edition, to add the later authorities to the editorial notes, is obvious. The publication of this work will be forwarded with as much despatch as the great research, labour, and care required in preparing and executing it, will admit of. CATALOGUE OF NEW PUBLICATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. FOR JULY, 1809. Sunt bona, sunt quaedam mediocria, sunt mala plura. MART. NEW WORKS. Lectures on the Evidence of the Christian Religion, delivered to the senior class on Sunday afternoon in the college of New Jersey, by the Rev. S. S. Smith, D. D. Philadelphia; Hopkins and Earle. A Farewell Sermon, preached May 28th. 1809, at Newark, New Jersey, by E. D. Griffin, D. D. Newark; E. E. Gould. Observations on the means of preserving the health of soldiers and sailors, &c. by Edward Cutbush, M. D. of the U. States navy. Philadelphia; Thomas Dobson. The inadmissible principles of the King of England's Proclamation of October 16th. 1807; considered by the late President Adams; originally published in the Boston Patriot. Boston; Everett and Munroe. American Principles; a Review of the Works of Fisher Ames, &c. first published in the Boston Patriot. Boston; Everett and Munroe. An Oration, pronounced July 4th. 1809, at the request of the selectmen of the town of Boston, in commemoration of the anniversary of American Independence; by Wm. Tudor, jun. Esq. Boston; J. Belcher. An Oration, pronounced at Lexington, July 4th. 1809, being the anniversary of American Independence; by Benjamin Greene, Esq. Boston; Munroe, Francis and Parker. An Address delivered before the republican citizens of Newburyport, &c. July 4th. 1809; by Rev. John Giles. Newburyport; W. and J. Gilman. An Oration, delivered at Newburyport, July 4th. 1809. By Wm. B. Banister, Esq. Newburyport; E. W. Allen. An Oration, delivered July 4, 1809, before the Washington Benevolent Society in the state of New York; by Gulian C. Verplanck. New York; E. Sargent. An Oration, pronounced at Watertown, July 4, 1809; by T. Fuller, Esq Boston; J. Belcher. NEW EDITIONS. The Intrigues of the Queen of Spain with the Prince of Peace and others. Written by a Spanish nobleman and patriot, who alone can be acquainted with the intrigues and amours of the above personages. "In furias ignemque ruunt; amor omnibus idem." Boston; Munroe, Francis and Parker. 12mo. pp. 179. The Rudiments of Latin and English Grammar, designed to facilitate the study of both languages, by connecting them together. By Alexander Adam, L. L. D. rector of the high school of Edinburgh. Boston; W. Andrews. Reliques of Robert Burns, &c. collected by R. C. Cromeck. Philadelphia; Bradford and Inskeep. Woman, or Ida of Athens. By Miss Owenson. Philadelphia; Bradford and Inskeep. Memoirs of the Life of Mrs. E. Carter; by the Rev. Montague Pennington. Boston; O. C. Greenleaf. The Hungarian Brothers; by Miss A. M. Porter. Philadelphia; Bradford and Inskeep. WORKS PROPOSED, AND IN PRESS. Collins and Perkins, of New York, have in the press, a Dissertation on the Mineral Waters of Saratoga, &c. &c. by Valentine Seaman, M. D. one of the surgeons of the New York hospital. Messrs. Smith and Maxwell, of Philadelphia, have in the press, Physiolog ical Researches on Life and Death; by Xav. Beckat; translated from the French, by T. Watkins, physician to the marine hospital at Baltimore. Munroe, Francis and Parker, have issued proposals for publishing by subscription, the Plays of William Shakespeare; with Notes by Samuel Johnson, George Steevens, Isaac Reed, and other annotators. Third Boston edition. 9 vols. 12mo. Price $1 per vol. in extra boards. They intend to copy the text from the latest and best edition of Johnson and Steevens's Shakespeare, edited by Dr. Reed. E. Sargeant, of New York, and Munroe, Francis and Parker, of this town, propose publishing, in two large 8vo. volumes, "Universal Biography; containing a copious account, critical and historical, of the life and character, labours and actions, of eminent persons, of all ages and countries, conditions and professions, arranged in alphabetical order. By J. Lempriere, D. D. author of the Classical Dictionary. Price $3 a volume, until the publication of the first volume, when the price will be $4. This edition will be printed from the London quarto edition, which cannot be imported and sold under $24. They have also in press, and will publish by the 1st. of August, "Letters from a late eminent prelate to one of his friends. "Si imagines nobis amicorum absentium jucundae sunt, quae memoriam renovant, et desiderium absentiae falso atque inani solatio levant; quanto jucundiores sunt literae, quae vera amici absentis vestigia, veras notas afferunt?" Sen. Ep. xl. "Les lettres des hommes celebres sont, ordinairement, la partie la plus curieuse de leur ecrits." Pref. a l'Hist. de Jorien. p. 50. First American edition. 8vo. Price $2 in extra boards. THE MONTHLY ANTHOLOGY. FOR AUGUST, 1809. FOR THE ANTHOLOGY. REMARKS ON ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE No. 6. LUCAN. THE Pharsalia of Lucan has divided criticks as much as any production of the ancient poets. Diversity of opinion is found among them, concerning the genius of its author, the nature of his poem, the knowledge that he displays, and the style in which his thoughts are clothed. Unlike the criticisms on Virgil, which are distinguished chiefly by the greater or less degree of praise that is bestowed upon the poet, those upon Lucan are marked, in many instances, either by the extreme of unqualified admiration, or that of unmixed censure. And They who are disposed to undervalue his genius, while they allow that he manifests a bold and vigorous intellect, deny that he had judgment sufficient to chastise it. While they grant that his eloquence is sometimes highly impassioned, they affirm also that his passion is wholly unrestrained by reason. while they admit that his descriptions of characters are not wanting in vivacity, they are unwilling to concede, that he discovers any nice discrimination in assigning them their parts in the action of the poem. Others again ascribe to him all the good qualities of vehement oratory, without any of the defects or excesses with which it is generally attended. They class his descriptions of characters among his greatest excellences; and vindicate the personages from the charge of impropriety, in the parts they sustain, and in every thing that they are made to utter. Some have ventured even farther, and given him the preference to Virgil, for exact delineation of individual character, and regard to the situations and circumstances of the subordinate actors. |