“Many centuries hence, if despotism without, or anarchy within, should cause the republican institutions of America to fade, then these fortresses ought to be destroyed, because they would be a constant reproach to the people; but until that period, they should be preserved as the noblest monuments of liberty.” The promise to include the fine arts is kept by the publication of various papers, as of the Trumbull paintings (=16=, 163, 1829); also by a series of articles on “architecture in the United States” (=17=, 99, 1830; =18=, 218, 220, 1830) and others. Quite in another line is the paper by J. W. Gibbs (=33=, 324, 1838) on “Arabic words in English.” A number of related linguistic papers by the same author are to be found in other volumes. Papers in pure mathematics are also not infrequent, though now not considered as falling within the field of the Journal. Applied science takes a prominent place through all the volume of the First Series. An interesting paper is that on Eli Whitney, containing an account of the cotton gin; this is accompanied by an excellent portrait (=21=, 201–264, 1832). The steam engine and its application are repeatedly discussed and in the early volumes brief accounts are given of the early steamboats in use; for example, between Stockholm and St. Petersburg (=2=, 347, 1820); Trieste and Venice (=4=, 377, 1822); on the Swiss Lakes (=6=, 385, 1823). The voyage of the first Atlantic steamboat, the “Savannah,” which crossed from Savannah to Liverpool in 1819, is described (=38=, 155, 1840); mention is also made of the “first iron boat” (=3=, 371, 1821; =5=, 396, 1822). A number of interesting letters on “Steam Navigation” are given in vol. =35=, 160, 162, 332, 333, 336; some of the suggestions seem very quaint, viewed in the light of the experience of to-day. A very early form of explosive engine is described at length by Samuel Morey (=11=, 104, 1826); this is an article that deserves mention in these days of gasolene motors. Even more interesting is the description by Charles Griswold (=2=, 94, 1820) of the first _submarine_ invented by David Bushnell and used in the Revolutionary War in August, 1776. An account is also given of a dirigible balloon that may be fairly regarded as the original ancestor of the Zeppelin (see =11=, 346, 1826). The whole subject of aërial navigation is treated at length by H. Strait (=25=, pp. 25, 26, 1834) and the expression of his hopes for the future deserve quotation: