whole, we had reason to be quite satisfied until a newly appointed superintendent of Station D, to whom we had neglected to send a copy of our journal, entered our office and asked, in a significant, rather excited tone, were we aware that he could charge us twice as much postage, as we now paid, for city subscribers? This we regarded as a threat, but we did not pay much attention to it. Three months afterwards, when our next number was issued, the Station superintendent had become superintendent of the newspaper and periodical department at the General Post-office in Nassau Street, and we were informed that we should pay four cents postage on each copy sent a city subscriber instead of the two cents we had been paying hitherto. At this time the Assistant to whom we allude above had withdrawn from the Post-office and obtained a much more respectable position; one over which politicians have no control; and the new Assistant, though well disposed also, did not like to interfere; and so we had to submit to the double tax. We would rather pay a quadruple tax than to degrade ourselves so far as to pay a person like the superintendent the homage he desired at our hands; and, accordingly, incredible though it may seem, we were informed some four months ago that in future we should pay as much postage for city subscribers as for those to whom the work is sent thousands of miles! -namely, six cents on each number. This was a new discovery on the part of our friend-the result of a new reading of the postage laws; but rather than comply with the new decree, we had our city subscribers served with our last March number partly by special carriers and partly by Boyd's City Express. But all this was not sufficient. As an instance of the petty annoyances to which we have been subjected in other respects we will mention one fact: A book was left at our exchange box in the Post-office, accompanied with a note. The latter was duly stamped according to law; the former we had a right, as an editor, to receive free. But it seems the wafer or paste on the letter happened to stick to the book. For this offence, of which we knew nothing, both letter and book were detained until the letter-carrier happened to meet us and give the information that we should have to pay letter-postage on the book, and that we were directed to call about it.. We refused to pay the letter-postage on the book, but demanded the letter, which had been duly paid. Both were detained ten days after this. First the charge demanded was eighty cents; a few days after it was reduced to fifty cents; then again to twenty-five, and finally we got both for nothing after they had been detained fifteen days! Since we have submitted to such annoyances as these for more than seven years, the present being the first instance in which we have said one word in our journal on the subject, we think it can hardly be said that we have been influenced by passion, or by any vindictive feeling. Even now we mention our own experience simply as illustrative of the disgraceful manner in which our postal affairs are mismanaged by ignorant and unprincipled politicians. But why, it may be asked, have not the facts mentioned above been brought to the notice of the Postmaster-General ? The question is a very natural one, as implying that he would have put an end to the annoyances complained of. So we had once supposed ourselves; but it seems we were egregiously mistaken. About one month ago we wrote to that functionary the first time in our life, briefly describing to him the experience we have had and requesting that he would let us know what postage we should pay for city and country; after waiting a fortnight for a reply, we wrote again, so that we might be able to print the rates on the present number; but no use; not a line have we received! We need hardly say that the way it is, Mr. Randall, like the rest, has certain other little matters to attend to besides the duties for which he is paid; he has to remember what he owes his position and salary to. Far be it from us to charge him with being so vain as to think for a moment that it was because he had any particular qualifications for the office he was made Postmaster-General. He is quite aware that it was his tact and influence as a politician that secured him the position. Why, then, should he not continue to add all he can to his political capital? We do not say, therefore, that he should not have accompanied the President on his recent tour and put in a word for himself, if only by grimace or gesture, whenever he had an opportunity. But we think he ought to have left somebody at Washington who was neither sleepy, lazy, nor stupid, to attend to the business. And yet we admit, on reflection, that this is more than we had a right to expect from the system. Now, without attributing more blame to any individual, high or low, connected with the Post-office, than he may be found to deserve, may we not ask is it strange that so many lose their most valuable letters? that there are constant complaints of the non-receipt of periodicals and papers?-nay, that scarcely a week passes but persons employed in the Post-office prove to be habitual mail-robbers in one form or other? Nor need we go beyond the New York Post-office for instances of the worst kind among those who, from their position, ought to be an example to the rest. The whole department is so shamefully mismanaged that those robberies may go on for years without being detected; and when the perpetrators are detected finally what is done. to them? One is allowed to go abroad for a year or so until his crime is forgotten; then he may return, promenade in Broadway, or ride in the Central Park, as independently as if he had never robbed anybody. Another is arrested, but immediately bailed; when the time for trial comes on a nolle prosequi is entered, so that the person caught in the very act of opening letters and pilfering their contents is allowed to enjoy perfect impunity. In no other enlightened country would such "management" of the post-office be tolerated for a single year. As for England, France, and Prussia, there is nothing in which any of them presents so striking a contrast to the United States as in its postal arrangements. Any of our readers who have travelled in those countries and had occasion to devote any attention to the working of the postal system will bear testimony to this fact. Take England, for instance. There is no reason why we should have any prejudice in favour of Albion; but we are not the less willing on this account to give her full credit for all that is superior in her institutions. Accordingly, we bear testimony to the fact that no postal arrangements are more nearly perfect than hers. If the humblest citizen or subject of Great Britain or Ireland complains to any of the proper authorities of the non-receipt of his letters or papers, or of any other annoyance experienced from the department, every possible satisfaction that his case would naturally call for is promptly and courteously given him. If this cannot be done otherwise, commissioners are sent from London, Edinburgh, or Dublin, as the case may be, for the purpose of making a full investigation at the office where the missing mail-matter is supposed to be detained; and if it is found that the blame lies with the local postmaster, he is immediately dismissed. No employé of the Post-office, from the postmaster down to the humblest lettercarrier, dare make use of the language to any one, on pain of immediate dismissal, which we have often heard used, even to ladies, at the Post-office of this city by "superintendents" as well as clerks. ART. VIIL-1. Introductio in Analysin Infinitorum. Lausannæ: 1744. 2 vols., 4to. 2. Theoria Motum Lunæ, exhibens omnes corporum inequalitates cum additamento. Berolini: 1753. 4to. 3. Theoria Motus Corporum Solidorum seu Rigidorum. Rostochii: 1765. 4to. 4. Nova Tabulæ Lunares singulari methodo constructæ. Petropoli: 1772 8vo. 5. Elemens d'Algèbre, trad. de l'Allemand, par J. BERNOULLI avec des Notes par LAGRANGE et PARNIER. Paris: 1807. 2 vols., 8vo. THE world has produced but few really great mathematicians. In modern times we reckon Kepler, Newton, Leibnitz, Bernoulli, Euler, Maclaurin, Clairault, D'Alembert, Lagrange, Laplace, and some others. There is a vast difference between that mind which is only able to follow where another has shown the way and the one which extends the boundaries of knowledge by making new discoveries. Among the latter class but few take a higher rank than Euler. Leonard Euler, one of the greatest mathematicians of the eighteenth century, was born at Bâsle, in Switzerland, on the 15th of April, 1707, twenty years before the death of Newton. As soon as he arrived at a suitable age his father, Paul Euler, who had been instructed in mathematics by the celebrated James Bernoulli, taught his son the rudiments of mathematical science, and thus stimulated to action those great powers for analytical investigations which he afterwards exhibited. His father (pastor of the village of Reichen, near Bâsle) intended that Leonard should study theology; but, fortunately for geometry, the course marked out for him by his father was not that indicated by nature, and he became the geometrician instead of the theologian. Euler was afterwards sent to the University of Bâsle, where he received lessons from John Bernoulli, who was then regarded as the first mathematician in Europe. While in that university, Euler, by his amiable disposition and close attention to his studies, gained the particular esteem of that great master and the friendship of his two sons, Dariel and Nicolas Bernoulli, already the disciples and rivals of their eminent father. John Bernoulli was so interested in Euler that he condescended to give him a particular lesson once every week for the purpose of elucidating the difficulties which he encountered in the course of his studies. But he did not long enjoy this great advantage. In 1723 he received the degree of Master of Arts, and on this occasion he obtained great applause by the discourse which he delivered in Latin, containing a comparison between the Newtonian and the Cartesian philosophy. His father now desired him to begin the study of theology, but mathematics possessed a greater charm for him, and his father at length consented to let him pursue the bent of his own genius. In 1725 Daniel and Nicolas Bernoulli accepted the invitation of Catharine I. to become members of the Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg, and at their departure they promised Euler to use their influence to procure him an appointment in that city. During the next year they informed him that they had a situation in view for him, and advised him to give his attention to physiology, and he immediately attended the lectures of the most eminent medical professors of Bâsle. Here, as elsewhere, he made rapid progress in his studies. But he could not relinquish his favorite pursuit of mathematics. He found time during his medical studies to compose a dissertation on the Nature and Propagation of Sound, and another on the Masting of Ships. The latter was written for the prize proposed by the Academy of Sciences in 1727. As the prize was proposed by several members of the Academy to bring into notice the talents of M. Bonguer, who had paid particular attention to the subject, and who was at that time a professor of hydrography in the town of Croisie, it was not probable that Euler, who had no practical knowledge of the subject, should have succeeded in the competition. He gained the second prize, however, which was an honor of considerable importance when we consider that he was but twenty years of age. Bonguer, as was expected, carried off the first prize. About this time he was a candidate for the chair of natural philosophy in the University of Bâsle, but was defeated. Daniel and Nicolas Bernoulli succeeded in procuring an |