Smithson, James. On the composition of zeolite. From the Philosophical Transactions. 7 pp. 4°. London, 1811. Steno, Nicolaus. The prodromus to a dissertation concerning solids naturally contained within solids. 128 pp. 120. London, 1671. Stephens, Rev. Walker. Notes on the mineralogy of part of the vicinity of Dublin. 59 pp. 8°. London, 1812. Tennant, Smithson. Notice respecting native boracic acid. 2 pp. 40. London, 1811. Tozzetti Torgioni, Dr. Antonio. Sulle cicerchie memoria letta nell'adunanza della R. Accademia dei georgofili di Firenze il di 3. Agosto 1785. 72 pp. 8°. Firenze, 1793. Voyage descriptive et philosophique de l'ancien et du nouveau Paris. Par L. P. Tome i. 314 pp. 240. Paris, 1814. Weeks' Museum, Tichborne street, London. 11 pp. 32°. Weld, Isaac, jr. Travels through the States of North America and the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797. Fourth edition. Vols. i, ii. 447, 384 pp. 8°. London, 1807. Werner, A. G. Traité des caractères extérieurs des fossiles. 310 pp. 120 Dresde, 1795. Winsor, F. A. Notice historique_sur l'utilization du gaz hydrogène pour l'éclairage. 64 pp. 8°. Paris, 1816. Wollaston, Wm. Hyde. A synoptic scale of chemical equivalents. 22 pp. 40. London, 1814. Wollaston, W. H. On the non-existence of sugar in the blood of persons laboring under diabetes mellitus. 16 pp. 40. London, 1811. Wolff, Jens. Runakefli le Runic Rim-stok, ou calendrier runique. 70 pp. 8°. Paris, 1820. NOTE 9. NOTICES OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, FOUND IN BOOKS IN SMITHSON'S LIBRARY. One of the books in Smithson's library is "Struggles through life, exemplified in the various travels and adventures in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. By Lieut. John Harriott." 8°. 2 vols. London, 1808. Mr. Harriott (vol. ii, pp. 259-260) says: "Respecting this intended city [Washington], I question much whether there ever will be a sufficient number of houses built to entitle it to the name of a great city. Reckoning up all the houses I could see or hear of as belonging to the new city of Washington, they did not amount to eighty. Having seen and examined everything, and gained all the information I could concerning this so much talked-of city, I sat down between the President's house and the Capitol, and entered the following in my minute-book, as my opinion, viz: "Should the public buildings be completed, and enterprising individuals risk considerably in building houses; should the Union of the States continue undisturbed; should Congress assemble for a number of years, until the national bank and other public offices necessarily draw the moneyed interests to it, the city of Washington, in the course of a century, may form a focus of attraction to mercantile and trading people sufficient to make a beautiful commercial city deserving the name of its founder; but I apprehend so many hazards as to be most unwilling to venture any part of my property in the undertaking." The other work in Smithson's library on America was by Isaac Weld, the Secretary of the Royal Society. "Mr. Weld," says the London Monthly Review,* “ feeling in common with the inhabitants of Europe the desolations of war, and trembling at the frightful progress of anarchy and confusion, was induced to cross the Atlantic for the purpose of examining into the truth of the various accounts which have been given of the flourishing condition of the United States." Of Washington Mr. Weld remarks: "Were the houses that have been built situated in one place, all together, they would make a very respectable appearance, but scattered about as they are, a spectator can scarcely perceive anything like a town. Excepting the streets and avenues and a small part of the ground adjoining the public buildings, the whole place is covered with trees. To be under the necessity of going through a deep wood for one or two miles, perhaps, in order to see a next-door neighbor, and in the same city, is a curious and, I believe, a novel circumstance. The number of inhabitants is 5,000.. . The people who are opposed to the building of the city of Washington maintain that it can never become a town of any importance, and that all such as think to the contrary have been led astray by the representations of a few enthusiastic persons. They insist that if the removal of the seat of government from Philadelphia should take place, a separation of the States will inevitably follow." Notwithstanding the condition of the city of Washington at the beginning of the present century, Mr. Weld indulged hopes of its future greatness. He remarks: "Considering the vastness of the territory which is opened to the Federal city by means of water communication, considering that it is capable from the fertility of its soil of maintaining three times the number of inhabitants that are to be found at present in all the United States, and that it is advancing at the present time more rapidly in population than any other part of the whole continent, there is good foundation for thinking that the Federal city, as soon as navigation is perfected, will increase most rapidly, and that at a future day, if the affairs of the United States go on as prosperously as they have done, it will become the grand emporium of the West, and rival in magnitude and splendor the cities of the whole world." + This view was undoubtedly entertained by Smithson, and experience has shown how well-founded were his anticipations. The wisdom of his selection has been fully justified. * Monthly Review for September, 1799. London. + Isaac Weld. Travels through North America. 1807. Vol. i, p. 80. |