Notices respecting New Books. 45 



by the processes of ordinary arithmetic j and it is sufficient for prac- 

 tical use, to have rules which will give the required results. 



" The method of performing each calculation by the sliding-rule is 

 added, and will tend to facilitate the computations. This valuable 

 instrument was introduced into considerable use amongst engineers 

 by Mr. Watt, and only requires a good collection of formulae to be- 

 come of universal application. The author hopes that what he has 

 done will contribute to extend the use of that excellent mode of com- 

 putation amongst the profession. 



" The history of the invention of the steam-engine and its applica- 

 tion, is divided into chapters. — The first of which contains an account 

 of the various projects and attempts which were made, during the 

 seventeenth century, to obtain a moving power from fire ; and a de- 

 scription of the first working engine which was invented by Mr. Sa- 

 very for raising water, but it never came into extensive use. 



"The second chapter is on the invention, principle, and construction 

 of the fire-engine of Newcomen, which was the first engine brought 

 into important use, and it is still very extensively employed. This 

 subject is treated at length, and rules are laid down for the propor- 

 tions of its parts. 



" The third chapter is on the various applications of Newcomen's 

 invention, which were made during the first half-century after its 

 invention. 



"The fourth chapter is on the introduction of cast-iron into the con- 

 struction of machinery, and the application of the fire-engine to the 

 manufacture of iron. 



. "The fifth chapter is a history of the origin and progress of Mr. 

 Watt's invention of his first steam-engine for pumping water ; with 

 an account of that engine, and of the rules which he established for 

 the proportions of its parts. 



" The sixth chapter gives an account of the first application of the 

 steam-engine to give continuous circular motion to mills j with a 

 complete description of the principle, operation, and structure of 

 Mr. Watt's rotative engine for that purpose ; and the dimensions of 

 several standard engines made by himself, which have been in use for 

 years, and which perform as well as any modern engines which 

 depend upon the same application of steam. 



" The seventh chapter is a treatise on the construction and use of 

 the sliding-rule, and its application to the purposes of calculations 

 relative to steam-engines. 



" The eighth chapter is a collection of rules for calculating the pro- 

 portions and dimensions for all parts of Mr. Watt's rotative steam- 

 engines. 



" The ninth chapter is in continuation of the history of the invention 

 of the steam-engine, and describes those modifications in the form of 

 Mr. Watt's engine which were proposed and executed by his co- 

 temporaries. 



"The present volume concludes at that part of the history of the in- 

 vention of the steam-engine, when it had been brought to such a de- 

 gree 



