impression is acquired with the assitsance of but one press-blanket; the type is not subject to wear uneven, and the elasticity that two, and sometimes more press-blankets give, by indenting deeper into the hair strokes of the letter than the bolder parts (which are more capable of resisting, on account of having a broader surface) and destroying, in a short time, the beauty of the type with the common press, is, in a great degree, prevented in this. The durability of this press, from being wholly made of cast and wrought iron, we presume, cannot for a moment be doubted. We also would express a pleasing disappointment at its so seldom becoming out of order, in consequence of the strength so properly given to those parts most requiring it.

The Columbian press, for power, facility, even impression, and beauty of mechanical construction, we cannot hesitate to say, we think, excels any thing of the kind now in use, and apprehend the day is yet distant, when it will be surpassed in either of those particulars. As we feel it a duty to encourage new inventions in our own country, more especially when we can serve our brethren, and advance the welfare of the profession by it, we seriously beg leave particularly to recommend the Columbian press to consideration, and general adoption.

its authenticity. Speaking of the indigenous productions of Western Pennsylvania, and more particularly of the unoccupied forests of Venango county, he remarks:

"A botanist, would be charmed with the bounties of Flora, in these woods, so open that they might seem pasture-fields, with here and there a tree. Of the indigenous grasses alone, there is an endless variety, and of flowering plants, which clothe the ground with rich and blooming verdure. I mention as a fact deserving notice and consideration, that these supplies nourish wild bees in incredible profusion: ten bee-trees having been found, in less than four months past, within one mile of my cabin, and not a rod of land had been cleared, within that distance, prior to twelve months last! It should be noticed that these grasses, which flourish in wild luxuriance, supplying a rich pasturage in the partial shade of open woodlands, will probably soon disappear whenever the lands are opened to the full influence of the solar rays. Will no Pennsylvanian seek to preserve them to posterity, and to enrich our agriculture by new varieties? If the seeds were preserved from the wild plant, cultivated with care, and by degrees, inured to the culture of open fields, it can hardly be doubted they would prove highly useful; and the more especially, as, having originated in it, they must be perfectly adapted to this soil and climate. Among all the grasses I ever saw, cultivated for hay or pasturage, I have seen none presenting so large a proportion of leaves, compared with the weight and bulk of the whole stock, as do some of these, one in particular. New and useful varieties of grain might very possibly be obtained also-for all our grain is of the family of grasses. There is a tall grass, four or five feet high, which grows much like our cultivated rye, except that every stock is crowned with three heads instead of one: the seed is small, and darker coloured; but who can tell what might be the effect of cultivation upon it, through several years, or vegetable generations? Of medicinal roots, and such as seem to promise new varieties of edibles, I have noticed a great many : and though my object is only to awaken public attention, I cannot omit to mention a wild potato, that grows every where around my cabin. I have found two to three, and six of them, in succession, on a lateral root, from one to six inches apart, from the size of a nutmeg to that of a common hen's egg. They are nearly round, and when cut, exude a milky juice, (a cir

cumstance indicating the necessity of caution in tasting or eating them) but this only from the skin, while all the rest looks dry, brittle like an artichoke, and mealy. On being roasted, its taste is a compound of the common cultivated potato, and the sweet potato of the south. It is as mealy as either, and cooks with as little heat, though the skin is considerably thicker. It may be proper to observe that the land about me is wooded with chesnut, four or five kinds of oak, the red and white hickory, &c. where these vegetables are found; and that people should be cautious of eating new and untried roots, however specious their appearance."

For the American Monthly Magazine. GENTLEMEN,

The communication from the pen of Mr. Hitchcock, relative to errors in my edition of the Nautical Almanac, deserves notice, and he is entitled to much credit for his perseverance. The ground on which I defended my editions, was the presumption, that the English edition, published at the expense of government, was correct, and I still assert no deviations were made till the Almanac for 1819 went to press, which I had recalculated, and corrected ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVEN ERRORS. Since this, Mr. H. has examined my edition for 1819, and discovered THIRTY-FIVE

ERRORS, all which I have corrected with the pen, in the copies on hand, and beg him to accept my thanks for the information, whatever may be his motive. Candour dictates he should say where the errors originated; and I still challenge him to point out one instance where I have deviated in publishing nine editions of the Nautical Almanac, except in the instances named by me, where errors were previously discovered. I have the English Nautical Almanac for 1820, now in the hands of two gentlemen, celebrated for their mathematical science, and when finished by them, will thank Mr. H. to amuse himself in going over the pages; after which, I will publish the work, and if a deviation is made from copy, of one figure, then I will acknowledge the confidence so liberally experienced by me, to be misplaced, and at once resign the pleasure I have twenty years experienced, of publishing nautical works (which of all others, should he entirely free from error) to other hands. Till then, Mr. H. will be pleased to continue his labours, and contribute all in his power to that perfection which guides the mariner through the pathless ocean, and relieves the solicitude of a respectable class of society, which it is a duty incumbent on every man to aid. With great respect,

The public's obedient servant,
EDMUND M. BLUNT.

New-York, July, 1818.

DOMESTIC.

HE Lyceum of Natural History, in

:

Catalogue of the indigenous plants grow ing in the vicinity of the city of New-York. CHARLES GALLAUDET, New-York, proposes to publish The Miscellaneous Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin.

SCHAEFFER & MAUND, Baltimore, propose to publish a weekly paper, entitled Journal of the Times; to be edited by PAUL ALLEN, Esq.

ISAAC PEIRCE, Philadelphia, has published "A brief Memoir of the Life of William Penn, compiled for the use of young persons, by Priscilla Wakefield."

TANNER, VALLANCE, KEARNEY & Co. Philadelphia, have published a two sheet Map of South-America, including the West-Indies.

EDDY & KEMMEL, Shawanee Town, Illinois, have commenced issuing a newspaper.

Mr. J. JOHNSON, Wilmington, Del. has constructed an improved Diving Drum, the scope

and light for working under water. He enjoys a constant renewal of respirable air, and is supplied with the means of conversation with those persons who may be at the surface of the water.

Arrangements are making to establish an Agricultural Society in Gennesee, N. Y.

An Agricultural Society has been organized in the district of Maine. The Hon. Judge Wilde is President.

The Oneida Indians, in this state, have formed amongst themselves an AGRICUL TURAL SOCIETY.

Gen. WILSON has sent to the President of the Lyceum, a curious specimen of Amber, which occurred at Crosswicks, not far from Trenton, New-Jersey. It is figured by the mineralized wood, and filled by the marine shells of the stratum in which it was found.

Manganese has been recently discovered on Big Sandy River, in the vicinity of Greensburg, Ky. where it occurs in great abundance.

Professor MITCHILL, the Rev. F. C. SCHAEFFER, Mr. PIERCE and Dr. TownSEND have lately laid a geological report before the Lyceum, relative to the interesting region of Kingsbridge, near this city. Kingsbridge is memorable for its strata of primitive limestone. These, it is understood, extend in a northerly direction, to Missisqui-bay, in the extremity of Vermont, bordering on lower Canada., It is crystallized and granular. The layers are nearly vertical; and in some places, as lately observed by the above named gentlemen, the calcarious rock contains veins of granite, several inches wide. Quartz, amorphous and crystallized; Mica amorphous and crystallized; Rubellite; Adularia; Pyroxene; brilliant Pyrites; and Titanium, &c. impart a peculiar interest to this formation.

Frequent applications have been made to us for information respecting the present condition of Harvard University, and the requisites for admission into that seminary. For the sake of fully satisfying such inquiries, we pub lish the following circular of President. Kirkland, on the present state of the University, which conveys all the information sought: it is copied from the North-American Review.

Circular Letter relating to Harvard University. The following is a circular letter, containing facts in the present state of the seminary, designed to be sent to candidates for admission, their instructers and friends, to parents and guardians of students admitted, and to other persons who have an immediate interest in the University, or apply for information respecting it.

ADMISSION. Candidates for admission are examined by the president, professors, and tutors. No one is admitted to examination, unless he have a good moral character, certified in writing by his preceptor, or some other suitable person. To be received to the freshmen class, the candidate must be thoroughly acquainted with the grammar of the Latin and Greek languages, including prosody; be able properly to construe and parse any portion of the following books, viz. Dalzel's Collectanea Græca Minora, the Greek Testament, Virgil, Sallust, and Cicero's Select Orations, and to translate English into Latin correctly;-he must be well versed in ancient and modern geography; VOL. I.-No. iv.

38

the fundamental rules of arithmetic, vulgar and decimal fractions, proportion, simple and compound, single and double fellowship, alligation medial and alternate, and algebra, to the end of simple equations, comprehending also the doctrine of roots and powers, arithmetical and geometrical progression.* Adam's Latin Grammar, the Gloucester Greek Grammar, and Cummings' Geography, are used in the examination for admission.

The usual time of examination for the freshmen class is the Friday next after Commencement. Those, who are necessarily prevented from offering themselves at that time, may be examined at the beginning of the first term. If any one be admitted after the first Friday of October, he will be charged for advanced standing.

Persons may be admitted to advanced standing at any part of the College course, except that no one can be admitted to the senior class after the first Wednesday of December. Every one admitted to advanced standing, in addition to the requisites for the freshmen class, must appear on examination to be well versed in the studies pursued by the class into which the candidate desires to enter. He must also pay into the college treasury a sum not under sixty dollars, nor exceeding one hundred, for each year's advancement, and a proportional sum for any part of a year. Any scholar, however, who lias a regular dismission from another college, may be admitted to the standing, for which, on examination, he is found qualified, without any pecuniary consideration.

Before the matriculation of any one accepted on examination, a bond is to be given in his behalf in the sum of four hundred dollars, for the payment of college dues, with two satisfactory sureties, one to be an inhabitant of the state.

COMMENCEMENT, when the degrees are given, is on the last Wednesday of August. There are three TERMS, during which the members of the University must be present. The first or Fall term, from the first to the second vacation; the second or Spring term, from the second

* An Introduction to the Elements of Algebra beginners, which contains those parts of algebra has been published at Cambridge, adapted to above enumerated, together with several chapters upon quadratic equations, intended for those who may have leisure and inclination to extend their inquiries on this subject. An Elementary Treatise of Arithmetic, soon to be published at the same place, comprehends those parts of arithmetic, which are required for admission, and will be used in examinations after 1318.

taphysics; 1st term. Natural Philosophy; 2d and 3d term. Forenoon. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.-Theology; 1st term. Hebrew, or substitute; 2d term. Mathematics; 3d term.

Forenoon.-Thursday.-Forensics or Themes. Through the year.

Afternoon. Monday to Thursday. Greek and Latin; 1st and 2d terms. Moral Philosophy; 1st seven weeks of 3d term. Greek Testament; last five weeks of 3d term.

SENIORS.

Morning.-Monday to Friday.-Mathematics and Chemistry; 1st and half 2d term. Moral and Political Philosophy; half 2d and 3d term.

Forenoon.--Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.Astronomy; 1st term. Theology; 2d term.

Forenoon. Thursday.-Forensics or Themes; 1st and 2d terms.

Afternoon. Monday to Thursday.— Moral and Political Philosophy; 1st term. Intellectual Philosophy; 2d term to April. The Instructer of French and Spanish attends two days in the week, to give lessons to such members of each class as desire to learn either or both of those languages and three days in the week on such as pursue French as a substitute for Hebrew.

N. B. The following is the rule of the Immediate Government in respect to candidates for advanced standing, who may have pursued their studies in a different order from that which is observed in this seminary.

"Whereas, in consequence of the different order of studies in the different colleges, candidates from other colleges for advanced standing in this, while deficient in some branches, may yet have anticipated others; so that on the whole they have learned an equal amount of the studies of this seminary, with the class, for admission to which they apply; in such cases the Immediate Government will receive the anticipated, for the deficient studies. Provided, however, no studies shall be received in compensation but such as form a part of the course at this college; and that the candidate have so much knowledge in each department as to be able to go on with the class. And the applicant shall be admitted only on condition that he afterwards make up such deficient studies, to the satisfaction of the Government upon examination; and should he neglect so to do, his connexion with the University shall be forfeited. Candidates from such a distance, as ren

ders it difficult to obtain a knowledge of the exact order of studies at this college, shall be entitled to the privilege of the foregoing rule?”

Where persons have been led by circumstances to pursue their preparatory studies in approved text books other than those in use here, they will be examined accordingly.

LECTURES, distinct from private exercises, are delivered to the whole college, or to one or more classes, or a select number of undergraduates or graduates, by the several professors;-on Divinity, to the whole college, part of every Lord's Day;-on Sacred Criticism, Philology, Rhetoric and Oratory, and Physics, Friday at 10 o'clock, and Saturday at 9 o'clock;-on Intellectual Philosophy-on Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity at times to be appointed;--on Astronomy, on Mineralogy and Geology, three forenoons in a week first term of the senior year. A full course of expe rimental Philosophy; of Chemistry; and a course of Anatomy, with preparations; a limited number on the Theory and Practice of Medicine, and the lectures of the Royal Professor of Law are given, three or four times a week, in each department, between the first of April and the middle of July. The course of Botany is twice a week, between the first Wednesday in April and the seventh Friday before Commencement, and of Zoology weekly the rest of the year. Besides these are the Dexter Lectures, occasion. ally given, on Biblical Criticism; those on the History and Polity of our churches, and those given to graduates and to students in the learned professions.

Besides the recitations and literary exercises before stated, there is a public examination of each class in the third term, and a public exhibition of performances in composition and elocution, and in the mathematical sciences three times a year; the Bowdoin prize dissertations read in the chapel the third term, the collection of theses to be printed at Commencement, the performances of Commencement day, and the speaking for Boylston prizes the day after.

An attendance is permitted on such teachers of polite accomplishments, as are approved by the authority of the college.

DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, AND THE OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD'S DAY. The members of the college attend prayers and the reading of the Scriptures in the chapel every morning and evening, when the President, or in his absence, a pro