to comprehend, we find death, resulting from our unskilful hands. We by no means intend to maintain, that experiments upon organized bodies cannot lead to positive results; many physiological and pathological facts forbid our expressing such an opinion, though we think that observation alone could have made known to us a great number of these facts. But the only object we have in view, is to show how much remains to be done in the field of observation which almost every one can make, and which, in order to lead to the finest results, require only to be made upon an uniform plan. And this is the proper theatre of action for the association. In designating the observations to be made, it will point out the plan to be followed. General questions would be examined before the entire associa tion; those belonging to a particular subject would be examined by the section which takes charge of that branch. Lately, in the Academy of Sciences of Paris, it has been proposed to print formulas for the different kinds of observation, so that the observer would have only to fill up the outlines already traced. This proposition was adopted without discussion; its advantages are obvious. We may be permitted to point out some few of the questions which it would be well for the society to recommend to the attention of its members. They would be the formation of Floras and of topographical Fauna, not classified in catalogues, nor treated of in dissertations, but as descriptive as possible, accompanied by statistical tables, giving the relative number of animals and vegetables, and also the distribution of vegetables upon the soil. Statistical summaries upon the domestic animals, with the nature and quantity of their nourishment; and also of the results of agriculture, accompanied by the products of tillage, and the effect of manure. It is needless to say that these accounts would be of importance only, when exact and complete. Such observations might be made every where, and by almost every one; truth and exactitude alone can give them value. There is a question of general physics, as important as it is difficult to be solved: the causes that unite in producing the ef fects which it seeks to explain, are at once so numerous, and act so remotely, that it is only by the conjoined results, furnished by observers scattered over the whole surface of the earth, that we can hope to arrive at any near solution of this important problem. It will be understood that we are referring to meteorol ogy. We do so with the greater pleasure, as from the time of our immortal Franklin to this day, we have contributed to the existing knowledge upon this important subject, more, perhaps, than the inhabitants of the old world. But much more may yet be done, if the association will take care to collect, from time to time, the facts which may be observed in the interior of the continent, and on board of our ships, which traverse every sea, under the guidance of experienced navigators. us. The plan of annually changing the place of assembling, has been thought useful in Europe-it will be still more so among By putting it into execution, a great number of questions of physical, botanical, and zoological geography might be determined by the coming together of observers, who have occupied themselves with researches of this kind; especially if the choice of those places of meeting be determined rather by their importance in a physical point of view, than by their commercial relations. The strongest reason in favor of the selection of the larger cities, and that which gives them the greatest advantage over the smaller towns, is, that in the former, the members of the association will find readier accommodation. Local societies, which have existed for a longer or shorter time, would also greatly facilitate the work of the American society, by their previously formed collections of local objects of natural history. The first meetings, therefore, should be held wherever those collections are most complete. In these collections, all specimens not found in the portion of the country which they are intended to illustrate, should be carefully excluded, in order that the naturalist should find there only that which he most desires to see in each locality. But, as it is not our intention to trace out a project for the association, a business which is to be matured by those who are far better able than ourselves, we shall stop here. Before bringing this article to a close, we must, however, introduce a single remark from a high authority, which has been made upon the British association. "The second objection which has been stated to us, is, that such meetings are calculated to encourage and to bring into notice forward and shallow declaimers, to the exclusion of modest merit; and to lower the character and true dignity of scientific men, by giving them inducements and opportunities to make public displays, for which their habits are not at all suited." This remark is not without its application here; in our country, this desire, above every thing, of shining, even in the exposition of simple facts, which are sufficiently beautiful in themselves, might occasion the loss of much precious 53 NO. VIII.-VOL. IV. time. But it is right, now to speak; at this stage of the proceeding, all opinions may be listened to, that which might afterwards be construed into a reproach, is now only a word of caution. We can now have no other object, than a wish to render service to so good a cause; at a later period, similar observations might be attributed to baser motives. We hope to see this subject discussed by others, but we should greatly regret to know that the distinguished gentlemen, who have brought forward the project of the "American Institution for the Cultivation of Science," should be led into any errors by what we have said, or what may be said in consequence of our remarks. ART. VII.-A Discourse on the Aborigines of the Valley of the Ohio, in which the opinions of the conquest of that valley by the Iroquois, or Six Nations, in the seventeenth century, supported by Cadwallader Colden, of New York, Governor Pownal, of Massachusetts, Dr. Franklin, the Honorable De Witt Clinton, of New York, and Judge Haywood, of Tennessee, are examined and contested. To which are prefixed, some remarks on the study of History. [Prepared at the request of the Historical Society of Ohio.] By WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, of North Bend. Cincinnati: 1838. pp. 51. THE literary tendencies of the West, amidst the necessities for active business, and the privations of a new country, are very gratifying. We recollect to have read, some years ago, with great interest and pleasure, an octavo work of considerable thickness, by Wilkins Tannehill, of Nashville, upon the History of Ancient Literature! This gentleman, as we think his preface apologetically announces, was, at the time of its composition, employed in a banking establishment of Nashville, as teller or cashier. Judge Hall, whose teeming and fascinating pen has made us acquainted with the history, statistics, and some of the romance of Western life, was successively a laborious and plodding lawyer, then a judge, and is now a financier. Timothy Flint, though a zealous preacher, found time and inclination to write voluminously and picturesquely about the geography, society, and scenery of the Western world. Without attempting to name all who have won distinction and renown, as writers and compilers, it may be said that the authors we have mentioned show a state of society which justifies the most favorable anticipations. From this quarter, if from any, we may hope for the germs of a national literature, marked by the strong individuality and chivalrous daring of the people. The elevated aims and independent port of the Western character, should excite in us no surprise. The entire valley of the Mississippi, is only a vast colony sent out from the Eastern, Middle, and Southern states. Some of the emigrants were intent upon gain, and others incited by a spirit of adventure; but all carried with them the fruits of our free institutions, intelligence and virtue, acuteness and energy. With such qualities, it would be wonderful and anomalous, if the head was not erect, and the aspirations of corresponding loftiness. We who reside on the Atlantic coast, are occasionally prone to underrate the literary efforts of the West, and not unfrequently to deride them in a style and spirit but too characteristic, a very few years ago, of the trans-Atlantic notices of our ownproductions. If England is coming to her senses, and finds that it is time to be proud of her progeny, surely we may at least afford an equal liberality of appreciation, in our estimate of Western letters. We are bound to the transmontane regions by all those ties which make us solicitous about ourselves. Though separated by the Alleghanies, the same spirit of freedom animates us, and the same common banner affords us protection. Though dispersed over a wide territory, the arm of the republic unites us; and not allowing us to be broken into separate communities, independent in action and conflicting in duty, it blends us into one harmonious combination, with common sympathies and identical interests. With the aids of the steam engine, we must prevent, by an exemption from the folly of local prejudice, and by a pervading spirit of patriotism, the applicability of a sentiment, whose truth was once universally admitted: "Mountains interposed, make enemies of nations, Been mingled into one." Among the evidences of a liberal spirit in the West, are the existence of an historical society at Cincinnati, and the presentation of such a paper, at one of its meetings, as the one which we have placed at the head of this article. Perhaps, of all the institutions which solicit encouragement, in this country, as a means of exciting and cherishing a fervid love of home, histori cal societies deserve the most prominent place. Being exclusively devoted to the preservation of national or public events, they feed the flame of patriotic devotion, by those stirring incidents which are its proper aliment. While an anniversary orator confines himself to the praise of conspicuous actors, it is the province of these, while recounting their actions, to ascertain their motives, and to rescue from oblivion those modest agents and concealed events, whose disinterested virtue, or want of superficial prominence, had veiled them with the haze of obscurity. General portraitures of times and of men, leave but a transient impression; but simple incidents, minute narrative, personal research, sink into the memory, and leave traces upon the heart. It is for these reasons, among others, we may presume, that the patriotic author of the discourse before us so eloquently inculcates, in the beginning of his address, the importance of a widely disseminated taste for historical knowledge. He deplores its disrepute or decadence, as of bad omen- an evil prognostic. General Harrison points out comments upon the rich lessons of ancient history, with that fondness for classical names and events, which belong to the educated gentleman. But the history of our own times, and especially of our own country, he considers a duty which no American should feel himself at liberty to neglect. He thinks that American history should form a branch of common education in our schools, so as to infuse into the juvenile breast the early lesson of a love of freedom and a love of country. The suggestion is a good one, and we have no doubt it would lead to good results, by proper attention in the proper quarter. But we go a step further. We would have every mother impart the lesson of our domestic history to her infant offspring, and thus implant, at the tenderest age, the precious seeds of private morality, good citizenship, and disinterested public virtue. Our author justly remarks: "It is in youth, and in early youth, that the seeds of that patriotism must be sown, which is to continue to bloom through life. No one ever began to be a patriot in advanced age; that holy fire must be lighted up, when the mind is best suited to receive with enthusiasm, generous and disinterested impressions. If it is not then the ruling passion' of the bosom, it will never be at an age when every action is the result of cool calculation, and the basis of that calculation too often the interest of the individual. This has been the prevailing opinion with every free people, throughout every stage of civilization, from the roving savage tribe, to the numerous and polished nation; from the barbarous Pelasgi, to the glorious era of Miltiades and Cimon, or the more refined and luxurious age |