THERE is fcarcely a more difficult talk than to convey an adequate notion of a plan of fome extent, within the limits of a short discourse. Whatever may be the promises, the hopes, or the intentions of an Author or Editor, the world, as in justice it ought, will fufpend its judgment till the actual performance fhall afford the knowledge which is indifpenfable for that purpose. Correspondents will arrange for themselves fuch materials as they think fit to publifh, without committing to memory any of the outlines which the authors of Journals may have drawn up. For these reasons, little more need be faid cerning the plan, than is prefented in the title-page. Whatever the activity of me of science or of art may bring forward, of invention or improvement, in any country or nation, within the poffibility of being procured, by means as refpectable as the motives that call for them, shall appear in this Journal; either in the form of short notices, or the full defcriptions of their refpective authors, or the more ample report deduced from actual vifitation and enquiry. The relative magnitude of each object will establish the rule from which either of thefe modes will be adopted. Arrangements have already been made, channels of communication opened, and other correfpondences are in profpect, which muft increafe, in value and extent, proportionate to the importance and curiofity of the fubjects to be difplayed in this work, and the impartiality and care with which they shall be treated. In a former Addrefs to the Public the Author has mentioned the advantages in regard to accuracy and fidelity which he apprehends must result from the conductor of a work of this nature becoming, in a certain degree, refponfible by name for its contents: he has alluded to the general tenor of his pursuits, as known to the Public, and in some respect qualifying him to engage in such a task; and he has deprecated the fsupposition of any vain pretence to fuperiority, by remarking, that no one could serve the Public in this way if he were to wait with the abfurd hope of firft bringing his own knowledge to a state of perfection. This is all that need be faid relating to himself. The leading character on which the selection of objects will be grounded is utility; and next to this, novelty and originality. The Author's researches and collections, and thofe of his friends, will afford a confiderable portion of new and curious matter, fufficient to ren der the work interefting, even to that extreme few who are fo fortunate as to have access to all the expanded sources of philosophical intelligence. But in the department of perfectly original matter, much of prudence is required to be exercised, in order that the claim of novelty may not operate to the exclufion of much more valuable and important fubjects. It is certain that, if every article in a journal of science were to be profeffedly original *, it would be a work of comparatively much less value to Philofophers and the Public. Such a plan would in a great measure defeat the attempt to convey the best discoveries of our cotemporaries in the most authentic manner, namely, in their own words. And when we reflect * Lewis's Philofophical Commerce of Arts, and various other publications of inferior note, have failed of public fupport, chiefly from this circumstance in their plan. on |