Prospectus for Publishing a Work, to Be Called the United States Statistical Journal

PROSPECTUS

FOR PUBLISHING A WORK, TO BE CALLED

The United States Statistical Journal.

TO BE DEVOTED TO THE COLLECTION, CLASSIFICATION, AND COMPARISON OF FACTS WHICH ILLUSTRATE THE CONDITION OF MANKIND, AND TEND TO DEVELOPE THE PRINCIPLES BY WHICH THE PROGRESS OF SOCIETY IS DETERMINED.

The SCIENCE OF STATISTICS furnishes the best evidence of human progress. It embodies the knowledge of events and things as they actually are, or have been. It gives form to the realities of the present and the past, and serves man as a guide to the future.

It is the science of FACTS, illustrating the condition of mankind, and exhibiting the wants of society. It reveals the hidden treasures of the earth, in all their diversified changes, and gives a record of the elements as subdued by ART, or as uncontrolled in the destruction of its works. It is a literal history, or its anatomy, of the world in its actual relations to man, showing its periods of success, and its periods of failure. It is the record of mind, in its countless conceptions of refinement and beauty, and in its attempts at discovery and reform, and developes those fundamental laws of nature, on the knowledge and observance of which depend the happiness and the progress of the race.

“It is unnecessary to show how every subject relating to mankind itself, forms a part of Statistics; such as population; physiology; religion; instruction; literature; wealth in all its forms, raw material, production, agriculture, manufactures; commerce; finance; government; and, to sum up all, whatever relates to the physical, economical, moral, or intellectual condition of mankind.

“Mechanics discover the means of abridging human labor; chemistry enters largely into the economy of art; medicine practises on the bodies of men; all these sciences operate upon human interests, and their powers and effects are susceptible of statistical exposition.

“Like other sciences, that of Statistics seeks to deduce from well-established facts certain general principles, which interest and affect mankind: it uses the same instruments of comparison,

Prospectus for publishing a work, to be called The United States statistical journal. To be devoted to the collection, classification, and comparison of facts which illustrate the condition of mankind, and tend to develope the principles by which the progress of society is determined ... Boston, April 1843. http://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.05800300 calculation and deduction; but its peculiarity is, that it proceeds wholly by the accumulation and comparison of facts, and does not admit of any kind of speculation; it aims, like other sciences, at truth, and advances, pari passu, with its developments.”—( London Stat. Jour. Vol. 1.)

To a country, like our own, made up of the active men of all countries, of all conditions and opinions; filled with the spirit of enterprise and experiment, and pushed forward with the boldness of untutored youth and hope; divided into sections, and influenced by sectional interests;—governed by different laws, and swayed by different customs and habits,—such a work must be of incalculable value. The rapid succession and diversity of events and changes which are continually transpiring, the excitements incident to differences of interest, to local pride and prejudices, are calculated to defeat the establishment of a uniform system, in any department of science, unless there be a rigid observance, collection, classification, and comparison of Facts.

To quote the language of Prof. Edwards upon this subject, “None of our institutions are in a perfect state. All are susceptible of improvements. But every rational reform must be founded on thorough knowledge. We must know what the want is before we can supply it. Frequently an extensive induction of facts is necessary. It will be worse than useless to rely on partial and ill-digested information. * * We are in a forming state, and in the midst of a great experiment. We need all possible light now. Our school systems, for example, are not working out their results for ourselves alone. The inhabitants of Florida and Wisconsin will derive essential benefit from our collected and recorded experience. The nations which people other parts of our continent will, more and more, as they become civilized, look to us for models and exemplars. How important, then, that we should be able to give them clear and well developed views, consistent with unquestionable facts!”

The Journal will receive the efficient aid and cooperation of “THE AMERICAN STATISTICAL ASSOCIATION.” The Editor will be aided by gentlemen of distinguished ability and of reputation for accuracy, as contributors and correspondents, in the several States of the Union and in Foreign Countries; and no expense or labor will be spared to render the work worthy of the country and of the age.

Terms. —To be issued in numbers every two months, of 128 pages each, large Octavo, making two volumes a year, at Five Dollars per annum, payable on the delivery of the First Number. Any person becoming responsible for five copies will be entitled to a copy gratis.

•The terms proposed will be regarded as reasonable by any competent judge, considering the great labor necessary to the preparation of matter, and the extra expenses incident to the proper typographical execution of such a work.

Prospectus for publishing a work, to be called The United States statistical journal. To be devoted to the collection, classification, and comparison of facts which illustrate the condition of mankind, and tend to develope the principles by which the progress of society is determined ... Boston, April 1843. http://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.05800300 The first number will be issued as soon as sufficient encouragement is offered to render the undertaking a safe one; and gentlemen who are disposed to aid in the establishment of such a Journal, are respectfully requested to make known their intentions with as little delay as possible.

Communications may be addressed to Nahum Capen, Boston, Mass.

BOSTON, April, 1847.

BOSTON, April 1848.

Sir, I beg leave to ask your attention to the accompanying Prospectus. The subject is one of great importance, and will, I trust, commend itself to your favorable consideration.

The present object is to secure a sufficient number of subscribers to warrant the commencement of the work, and if you will favor the undertaking by authorizing a subscription for yourself or others, you will do much to secure the entire success of the plan.

I am happy in being able to state that our most distinguished citizens, so far as they have been consulted, have promptly given it their most decided approbation. Among those who have already subscribed with the view of encouraging a work of the character proposed, I may mention The President and Vice President of the United States; Hon. James Buchanan, Secretary of State; Hon. Wm. L. Marcy, Secretary of War; Hon. Robert J. Walker, Secretary of Treasury; Hon. R. H. Gillet, United States Register; Hon. J. J. Crittenden, of Kentucky; Hon. John A. Dix, of New York; Hon. John Quincy Adams; Hon. J. T. Morehead, of Kentucky; Hon. Thomas Corwin, of Ohio; Hon. Wm. Allen, of Ohio; Hon. O. Hungerford, of New York; Hon. Reverdy Johnson, of Md.; Hon. E. A. Hannegan, of Ind.; Hon. W. S. Archer, of Va.; Hon. Wm. L. Dayton, of New Jersey; Hon. Sam J. S. Phelps, of Vermont; Hon. David R. Atchison, of Mo.; Hon. J. W. Miller, of New Jersey; Hon. J. A. Pearce, of Md.; Hon. Joseph Cilley, of N. H.; Hon. Samuel Houston, of Texas; Hon. Tho. J. Rusk, of Texas; Hon. John M. Niles, of Conn.; Hon. Jesse D. Bright, of Ind.; Hon. Dan'l Sturgeon, of Pa.; Hon. Spencer Jarnagin, of Tenn.; Hon. Jos. W. Chalmers, of Miss.; Hon. W. P. Mangum, of N. C.; Hon. Henry Johnson, of La.; Hon. D. S Dickinson, of New York; Hon. John Fairfield, of Me.; Hon. A. C. Greene, of R. I.; Hon. Chester Ashley, of Ark.; Hon. Wm. Woodbridge, of Mich.; Hon. James F. Simmons, of R. I,; Hon. Wm. Upham, of Vermont; Hon. C. G. Atherton, of N. H.; Hon. Geo. Folsom, of New York; His Excellency, Geo. N. Briggs, Gov. of Mass.; John Davis, LL. D.; Jared Sparks, LL. D.; James Walker, D.D.; Hon. Daniel Webster; Hon. Rufus Choate; Hon. Levi Woodbury; Hon. R. C. Winthrop; Hon. Nathan Appleton; Chief Justice Shaw; Hon. Horace Mann; Hon. Abbott Lawrence; Hon. Marcus Morton; Hon. Robert Rantoul, Jr.; Hon. Alex. H. Everett; Hon. Edward Everett, LL. D.; Hon. Edmund Dwight; Prof. Benjamin Silliman; Hon. James Savage; Hon. Theodore Lyman; Amos Lawrence, Esq.; James Jackson, M. D.; John C. Warren, M. D.; Hon. Charles

Prospectus for publishing a work, to be called The United States statistical journal. To be devoted to the collection, classification, and comparison of facts which illustrate the condition of mankind, and tend to develope the principles by which the progress of society is determined ... Boston, April 1843. http://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.05800300 Jackson; J. P. Cushing, Esq.; Robert G. Shaw, Esq.; Samuel Appleton, Esq.; Hon. Richard Fletcher; Geo. C. Shattuck, M. D., President of American Statistical Association; Franklin Haven, Esq.; Hon. Wm. Foster, L. V. Bell, LL. D. of Mass., &c. &c. An early reply is respectfully requested by

Your most obedient servant,

The following are extracts from Letters which the Editor has received, in respect to the proposed work.

From Hon. G. M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States.

“Your project for publishing a periodical statistical Journal, is worthy of every encouragement. Such a work, edited with ability and industry, cannot fail to be highly useful. I sincerely hope your efforts will be aided: my mite is at your service.”

From Hon. Thomas H. Benton, U. S. Senate.

“I have examined the plan of your proposed Statistical Journal, and an am of opinion, that a work of the kind skilfully conducted, will be of great value to the country.”

From Hon. J. C. Calhoun, U. S. Senate.

“I take pleasure in saying, that your proposed Statistical Journal, if carefully and properly conducted, would be of much value, in my opinion, to the country.”

From Hon. Daniel Webster.

“A well conducted Statistical Journal would be very useful; I shall be a well-wisher to the work, and a subscriber should it be undertaken.”

From Hon. J. T. Morehead, of Kentucky.

“I have long been impressed with the great importance to the country of a Statistical Journal such as that which is proposed, in your prospectus. If well conducted, it must be of great practical value to the politician and legislator, and I hope to see it extensively encouraged.”

To which, Hon. John A. Dix, U. S. Senator, of New York, adds, “I fully concur with Mr. Morehead.”

From Hon. James Semple, U. S. Senate.

Prospectus for publishing a work, to be called The United States statistical journal. To be devoted to the collection, classification, and comparison of facts which illustrate the condition of mankind, and tend to develope the principles by which the progress of society is determined ... Boston, April 1843. http://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.05800300 “I have long considered such a work (Statistical Journal) of great importance, and am pleased to see that you are likely to succeed. It will give me great pleasure to give you any aid in my power.”

From Hon. Edmund Burke, Commissioner of U. S. Patent Office.

“Some months ago I had an opportunity to examine the Prospectus of your proposed statistical publication, and am glad of an opportunity to express my concurrence in the plan of it, and the hope that you will meet with sufficient encouragement to commence it immediately. Our country is very deficient in the information which your proposed work is destined to supply; a deficiency which is very severely felt by all persons who undertake to investigate any great question affecting our industrial interests, or the condition of society. If this desideratum could be supplied, it would be a benefaction to the political economist and legislator. Hoping that you will have the encouragement and support of every enlightened citizen, I am,” &c.

From Hon. Levi Woodbury.

“I shall be happy to take your Statistical Journal. It bids fair to be useful, as the subject is one of deep and growing interest.”

From Hon. John Davis, LL. D., of Mass.

“I have read your Prospectus and beg leave to assure you that the proposed enterprise meets with my most hearty concurrence. The deficiency is felt in almost every branch of inquiry and no where more than in the Halls of Legislation. The work is as I understand it, to be devoted wholly to statistics, and I perceive that it has the support of Gov. Morton, Judge Woodbury, the late Judge Story, Chief Justice Shaw, Abbott Lawrence, and many others distinguished for their intelligence, and is sustained by the American Statistical Association, and I sincerely hope it will find a similar support in all parts of the United States. I beg you to place my name upon your list of subscribers.”

From Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, of Mass.

“I heartily concur with Gov. Davis in the above views, and desire to add my name to the subscription list for the proposed work.”

From His Excellency Geo. N. Briggs, Gov. of Mass.

“I am satisfied that the proposed work, if well conducted, will be very valuable.”

“This country is suffering for the want of correct statistical information. I therefore shall be glad to encourage a work that shall be well conducted.”

From Prof. Benjamin Silliman.

“I have no hesitation in saying that I think it (the Journal) eminently necessary to this country, and highly deserving of the public patronage.”

From Jared Sparks, LL. D. Professor of History, Harvard College.

“In reply to your inquiry respecting a project for publishing a Statistical Journal, I can say little more than that I presume no one can doubt the utility and importance of such a work, if executed with accuracy, and conducted on just principles.

“The subject of statistics is apt to be considered within too limited a view. It is often supposed to be confined to tabular statements and numerical results. But in reality it embraces a very wide field of knowledge, and is nearly allied to geography and history. It is true, a statistical work, in the genuine sense of the expression, is essentially a record of facts; but these facts relate to the organization of society and the whole compass of human affairs, and also the physical structure of the earth, its geographical features, climates, soils, and products, including the animal, mineral, and vegetable world. The various forms of government, systems and details of administration, municipal regulations, schools, churches, agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and numerous other branches of knowledge collateral to these, are properly within the circle of statistics.

“On this basis the subject has been largely and ably treated by European writers. It is certainly desirable that it should receive the same attention, and to the same extent, with reference to our own country.”

From L. V. Bell, LL. D., McLean Asylum, Somerville.

“I am exceedingly glad to learn that you do not give up the idea of publishing a Statistical Journal.” * * * “I know nothing but a thorough, independent, fearless Periodical, such as you propose, which can restore this important branch of political and philanthropic science to a respectable standard.”