thing, to the high scientific tone of the French SAVANS. What
author, indeed, but will write his best, when he knows that his
work, if it have merit, will immediately be reported on by a
committee, who will enter into all its meaning; understand it,
however profound: and, not content with MERELY understanding it,
pursue the trains of thought to which it leads; place its
discoveries and principles in new and unexpected lights; and
bring the whole of their knowledge of collateral subjects to bear
upon it. Nor ought we to omit our acknowledgement to the very
valuable Journals of Poggendorff and Schweigger. Less
exclusively national than their Gallic compeer, they present a
picture of the actual progress of physical science throughout
Europe. Indeed, we have been often astonished to see with what
celerity every thing, even moderately valuable in the scientific
publications of this country, finds its way into their pages.
This ought to encourage our men of science. They have a larger
audience, and a wider sympathy than they are perhaps aware of;
and however disheartening the general diffusion of smatterings of
a number of subjects, and the almost equally general indifference
to profound knowledge in any, among their own countrymen, may be,
they may rest assured that not a fact they may discover, nor a
good experiment they may make, but is instantly repeated,
verified, and commented upon, in Germany, and, we may add too, in
Italy. We wish the obligation were mutual. Here, whole branches
of continental discovery are unstudied, and indeed almost
unknown, even by name. It is in vain to conceal the melancholy
truth. We are fast dropping behind. In mathematics we have long
since drawn the rein, and given over a hopeless race. In
chemistry the case is not much letter. Who can tell us any thing
of the Sulfo-salts? Who will explain to us the laws of