Ottley*^ Dictionary of Chemistry. 55 



What may be Mr. Ottley's talents we know not, nor do 

 we recollect to have met with his name in the annals of che- 

 mistry : he has, at all events, on the present occasion, 

 entered upon an undertaking in which he has entirely failed ; 

 indeed we cannot even conceive his object in the present publi- 

 cation, which is only fit to keep company with Mr. Accum's 

 work of the same name and nature. 



But now that the subject of chemical dictionaries is before 

 us, we cannot let tlie opportunity slip of giving a word or 

 two of advice to Messrs. Aikins and Dr. Ure, whose works, 

 excellent as far as they go, and in a great measure distinct 

 in their objects and execution, may still admit of improve- 

 ment. 



To Messrs. Aikins we would remark, that chemists are 

 not fond of quartos ; and we are certain that an edition of 

 their dictionary in octavo, executed in the same excellent 

 spirit and style as the former, carefully worked up to the 

 present state of the science, and containing an extension of 

 their practical histories of the chemical arts, would meet 

 with unrivalled success. If we are not mistaken, two closely- 

 printed volumes would embrace every requisite ; for we re- 

 gard the plates of little consequence. Our advice to Dr. 

 Ure is, in his next edition, to get rid of as much more of Mr. 

 Nicholson as he conveniently can : if possible, to put him 

 altogether upon the shelf, and make the work his own. Dr. 

 Ure's original stores of chemical knowledge, the depth of his 

 reading and information, and the perspicuity of his style, are 

 all evilly influenced by the alloy of the old book upon which 

 they are grafted, and which operates upon them as lead upon 

 gold, — for, although it neither alters nor debases the pre- 

 cious metal, it deteriorates and discolours it. 



In taking our leave of Mr, William Campbell Ottley, we 

 sincerely advise, that before he again comes forth in the shape 

 of an author, he should seriously consider whether or not he 

 has anything new to communicate, or whether he regards 

 himself peculiarly fitted for conveying known facts, in more 

 intelligible terms and perspicuous language than his prede- 

 cessors and contemporaries : — in short, whether his stock of 

 chemical knowledge and experience justify his undertaking 

 the compilation of a work above all others requiring them — 

 a Chemical Dictionary. 



