Then, owing to the size of the maps, a stout kind of paper had to be used, in which steel pens and compasses worked (at least in my unpractised hands) most unpleasingly." But for all this the author has produced a set of maps of the Heavens which are as excellent in mere details of printing as they are accurate and reliable in an astronomical sense.

THE

HYDROSTATICS AND SOUND.*

THE author of this book tells us that it contains all that is required for the London University, and we are willing to believe him. At all events we can see that it is as much before other books of the kind as the London University examinations are in advance of most others. Assuredly, if this little work contains all that a student must know in respect to hydrostatics and sound, no very severe test exists at Burlington House; for it must be confessed that it deals with only the elements of the two subjects, and that there is within-including questions—a space of about 140 pp. of a duodecimo volume. But after all this does not appear so strange, if the reader will but remember that the book is written by one who is himself familiar enough with the London University examinations. He has cut from his pages all those useless accounts of appliances and valueless descriptions which so many of the old manuals are filled with. He has thus given himself room for the introduction of the really useful matter which fills his pages. In the manual he deals with the subjects of Hydrostatics and Sound clearly and concisely; and as each chapter is followed by a table of questions to which the answers are given, and as the mode of replying to them is sufficiently explained in the text, we see no reason why the student should experience any difficulty in working through its pages. Its general "get up" is excellent, whether in regard to the type in which it is printed, or the excellent diagrams and figures which it contains.

THE lit

THE CHEMISTRY OF CREATION.†

MIE little work which is now before us was written some years ago and was not published. This is a statement made in the preface by the author. We can only say in passing that we wish it had never been published: 1stly, because it cannot convince the disciples of Gliddon; and 2ndly, because, not doing so, it is obviously of no use; unless, perhaps, it may do in America what it would not possibly do here-it may bring in something to the author. Such works are ineffective; for, while they all start with some point or argument which would be denied to the author by his op

"An Elementary Course of Hydrostatics and Sound," &c. By Richard Wormell, M.A., B.Sc. London: Groombridge. 1870.

"The Chemical History of the Six Days of Creation." By John Phin, C.E., editor of the "Technologist." New York: American News Company.

1870.

ponent, they all give a somewhat different account of the earth. In some the whole of creation was formed-with that which is now fossil and that which we see before us-in the six days. Others tell us that the days may be regarded as representing ages, differing of course in duration. A third will not recognise geology at all, but stick to the original. So it is with the Biblical authorities. Very few of those who differ from them take the least trouble in the matter. Nor can we see that they are wrong in so doing. It in no way affects Christianity what way we look at the commencement of the world in, and we can only hope that those who could well reply to works like the present will stay their hands, and not keep up the "shindy" which the authors so much desire. We are speaking now of the class of works to which the present one belongs, and not of itself. In tone it is not ungenerous, while in style it is superior to the great mass of such works, and we doubt not the author is fully persuaded of the accuracy and intelligence with which he has laid down his views. We do not contradict him, but we think he would do better in any other line, and we recommend him to make the attempt.

THE LABORATORY GUIDE.*

WE need only shortly notice this, as it is a second edition of a work by a

writer now well known to chemical readers. It is especially a work intended for agricultural students, and so we cannot criticise it as if it were intended for general readers. Were it otherwise, our comments would be more severe than they shall be. Intended as it is for agricultural people, it is not of so much consequence. It is a curious book, and we have been unable to follow it out. It seems to run through the subject differently to what other books do, and we find ourselves taken about by it from one point to another in a way that we don't exactly understand. However this may do for the agricultural student, we ourselves don't like it much, and we confess that we prefer the ordinary methods of teaching. With these faults the book is a good one, and shows that Professor Church is attentive to the changes in his science.

THIS

SPON'S ENGINEER'S TABLES.†

HIS useful little book should have been noticed in an earlier number, but by some accident it was mislaid. A notice of it now will not, we hope, be unavailing, even though it is late. It is almost out of our power to give a full account of the contents, for, though the book is of the smallest size, it contains a multitude of things, though very little of each. But when we state that it contains the following memoranda, we shall have done

"The Laboratory Guide; a Manual of Practical Chemistry for Colleges and Schools, especially arranged for Agricultural Students." By A. H. Church, M.A. 2nd edition. London: Van Voorst. 1870.

+ Spon's "Tables and Memoranda for Engineers," selected and arranged by J. T. Hurst. London: E. & F. Spon, 1870.

almost all that is required of us. First of all there come excavators' memoranda, then bricklayers', then masons', slaters', carpenters', plasterers', smiths' and founders', plumbers', and lastly, painters' and glaziers' memoranda. Then follow sundries, involving the weight per cubic foot of metals, earth, timber, &c., &c., next mensuration, then money tables, and lastly, a table of weights and measures. With all these, it must prove very valuable to the practical man engaged in almost any trade, while its small size renders it available for the waistcoat pocket.

OUR GARDENS.*

BOOKS

QOOKS written upon this subject are generally such abominable trash, that one doesn't care even to read their titles. In fact, in England gardening has so completely passed into the unworthy and ignorant hands of the mere gardener, that it is almost hopeless to expect an eradication. However, if anything can do so, we expect that the publication of works on gardening like the present will effect it. Now, the myriads of gardens which exist in this country, and especially those kept by persons in London, are under the control of persons who are so ignorant, that they hardly deserve to be called gardeners at all. We can only hope that a better time approaches, and in this hope we venture to commend the work which is now before us, as one unusual of its kind, as it is also original in design. Mr. Robinson has our best wishes in his effort to recall the ancient system of English gardening. We hope his efforts may meet with the success they so well deserve; but we fear that the present system is one which, thoroughly expensive as it is, will yet hold out for long against the storm that may, and necessarily must, be raised against it.

However, be that as it may, the author of this work shows us how we may set about a revolution. He gives us a list of plants that will not be carried off by our winter frosts, and which extends over eighty pages of his interesting manual. It is almost absurd to think that the myriads of plants of which our gardens are possessed, will not hold out against even the winters of this country. It is absurd to allow such plants to have the larger share. Let them have a share, by all means, for we should have all kinds; but let us give a preference to our own plants, or those that will grow with us, and group them as advised by Mr. Robinson, and let us see whether we shall not do well. Assuredly, at all events, we shall not seek in vain, as it has hitherto been attempted before.

"The Wild Garden, or our Groves and Shrubberies made beautiful by the Naturalisation of Hardy Exotic Plants, with a chapter on the Garden of British Wild Flowers." By W. Robinson. London: Murray, 1870.

PROFE

ELECTRICITY.*

ROFESSOR TYNDALL has here given us the notes of his Lectures on Electrical Phenomena and Theories, and we thank him for doing so. They are a very clear and remarkably concise account of the whole subject, from the earliest experiments to the latest period, and are yet extremely and remarkably clear. It would be impossible to give an abstract of a book which is in itself abstractive, but a reference to the chapter entitled "Historic Jottings concerning the Electric Telegraph" will enable us to give an idea of the nature of the book. After Nicholson and Carlisle had discovered the decomposition of water by the galvanic current, Sömmering and Professor Coxe about the same time proposed a system of telegraphy based on the discovery. In 1820 Oersted discovered the deflection of the magnetic needle. The relation of electricity to the magnetic needle was then worked at by several. It was worked at by Professor Ritchie of the Royal Institution, and in 1832 Baron Schilling constructed models of an apparatus, which were exhibited before the Emperors Alexander and Nicholas. The next step seems to us to have been taken by Steinheil, who in 1837 had established a system of wires about 40,000 feet long, connecting various parts of the city of Munich; and he discovered that the earth alone answers the purpose of the second wire, which need not therefore be employed. From this stage the progress of the invention is obvious. Cooke and Wheatstone entered into partnership, and from 1837 succeeded in introducing the telegraphic system into England, from which time, of course, many improvements have been made. We have, however, taken sufficient from this little book to show its value, and we now close our notice with the hope that our readers will think as we do about the matter.

*"Notes of a Course of Seven Lectures on Electrical Phenomena and Theories," delivered at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, April 28 to June 9, 1870. By John Tyndall, F.R.S. London: Longmans, 1870.

SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY.

ASTRONOMY.

The Eclipse of December 22.-Mr. Hind has published a Nautical Almanac Circular with reference to the path of the total phase in regions which are conveniently accessible. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the shadow of the moon passes across the south of Portugal and the Straits of Gibraltar to Algeria, reaching its most southerly limits in about longitude 4° east of Greenwich, where the southern boundary of the shadow-path is in about 343° north latitude. Thence the shadow passes to Sicily, the northern limit passing slightly to the north of Mount Etna, and so, touching the extreme southern point of the Italian peninsula, by the south of Turkey, past Thessaly. The most important parts of the shadow's path are those across the south of Portugal and Spain, in Algeria, and across Sicily. The chief towns which lie close to the central line are Odemira, Silves, Almodovar, Tavira, Ayamonte, Huelva, Palos, Xeres, Cadiz, San Fernando, Arcos, Estepona, and Marbella, in the Spanish peninsula; Oran and Ratna in Africa, and Syracuse in Sicily.

Incredible as it may seem, the Admiralty have refused the use of a ship to convey the astronomers and others who had volunteered to observe the eclipse. It will be felt by all that the chief misfortune here is not the loss of the opportunity of making observations likely to throw light on the subject of solar physics. Important as the results of well-concerted observations would in all probability have been, we could better have sacrificed the results of the observation of fifty total eclipses than have suffered the shame of such paltry parsimony to rest for ever as a blot on the scientific repute of England. To all ages the story will be handed down that in 1870 England seemed to have forgotten the traditions of past munificence in the cause of science, and that when sixty generous men volunteered their services, at no unimportant sacrifice, England could not find a corner for them in all her navy. Where George III. could be generous, insomuch that under his auspices ships were sent to the Antipodes to observe a transit of Venus, a Liberal government in this nineteenth century can risk the reputation of the country through a miserly economy.

But then there is war, and who can say what risks this country might not run if any one of her ships should be employed to leave observing parties at Gibraltar or Syracuse, and to transport them back again to England? The prospect is terrible indeed. Yet unless we err, this country has done more