Memoirs of John Adams Dix; comp. by his son, Morgan Dix.

1830-1842.]

" THE NORTHEEN LIGHT."

169

been connected. They believed with myself and the proprietors of The
Northern Light that, after a long and angry political contest, a portion
of the public attention might be turned, with pleasure and profit, to the
discussion of less exciting topics than those which entered into the recent election, and that among the literary and scientific publications in
which the country abounds a place might be found for theirs. The topics referred to, for the most part of practical usefulness, will be presented
in a popular shape, and made intelligible to all classes of readers. The
only source of anxiety to the members of the association is a distrust of
their ability to render the enterprise in its execution worthy of the design. Amoncg those who know us we arc sure no apprehension will be
felt as to a scrupulous adherence on our part to the avowed purposes of
the publication. Those who are not personally acquainted with us will,
it is believed, feel equally at ease on this point, when it is considered
that we belong to different political parties, and that we have all an
equal voice in deciding questions concerning the management of the
editorial department. I will only add that if you, or any of your friends,
will do us the favor to prepare a paper on any subject embraced in our
prospectus, it will afford us the greatest pleasure to insert it."
The first number of The Northern light appeared in April,
1841: the last that I can find is that of July, 1843. Its literary excellence may be inferred from the fact that among its
contributors were Professor Alonzo Potter, of Union College, afterward Bishop of Pennsylvania; J. R. Poinsett, Minister to Mexico, and Secretary of War, under Mr. Van Buren;
the Rev. William Croswell, D.D.; Thomas Cole, the painter;
Miss Sedgwick; Edwin Croswell; J. Louis Tellkampf, Professor of German. in Columbia College; Noah Webster;
Matthew Henry Webster; Professor Charles W. Hackley;
Alfred B. Street; Amos Dean; Samuel S. Randall, the biographer of Thomas Jefferson; the Rev. Horatio Potter, now
Bishop of New York; John L. O'Sullivan; Horace B. Webster; Salem Town; James E. Freeman, the painter; Gerritt
Smith; Willis Gaylord; James Hall, geologist in the State
Survey; William H. Jansen; Drs. E. B. O'Callaghan, Heman J. Redfield, and Caleb Lyon, of Lyonsdale. In addition
to these the five gentlemen whose names appear on the prospectus were occasional contributors. General Dix, besides