Genre:

Introduction

Subjects:

Amusement, Error

    An editorial introduction explains that this section of the journal will contain a collection of 'amusing and interesting details concerning Letters and Philosophy', including 'Reports of New Inventions, Philosophical discoveries, and curious Experiments; Sketches of the Proceedings of Learned Societies, &c.' By careful searching of the principal literary and scientific journals, it is intended to give 'a brief but satisfactory view of the state and progress of Science and Letters throughout the civilized world'. It is noted that many articles, 'particularly those with respect to foreign science and literature' are to be 'inserted upon the authority of the works from which we extract them'. However, the note promises to take great pains in ascertaining the authenticity of articles of a 'suspicious or doubtful nature' appearing 'in our own prints and journals', and to acknowledge the subsequent discovery of any inauthentic articles.