80 MR. J. P. JOULE ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS 



comes superior to, and has an absolute advantage over, 

 another; and, by the study of science, the minutest process, 

 and the most stupendous operation of nature, become alike 

 delightful and familiar. The mind is thus led to explore the 

 beautiful, the harmonious, the wondrous works of creation, 

 and to admire and adore Creation's God." 



In the year 1836 Mr. Sturgeon established a new scientific 

 periodical, entitled the " Annals of Electricity, Magnetism, 

 and Chemistry, and Guardian of Experimental Science," 

 which he in the first instance published quarterly, but after- 

 wards monthly. He conducted it with great ability, industry, 

 and perseverance through ten octavo volumes. This work 

 became the medium of the communication of much valuable 

 information ; and we are told that it gave rise to a similar 

 publication, edited by Professor De la Rive, of Geneva. 

 Subscribers to it were not sufficiently numerous to enable 

 Mr. Sturgeon to continue it ; but, nevertheless, after an in- 

 terval of six months he made another attempt, which resulted 

 in the appearance of the "Annals of Philosophical Discovery," 

 which, however, he gave up after publishing six monthly 

 numbers. Few, unhappily, care to read what it takes the 

 slightest effort to understand ; hence, with certain special ex- 

 ceptions, the sale of a publication may almost be said to be 

 inversely proportional to the cultivation that may be expected 

 from its perusal. Thus an inferior periodical literature is most 

 generally read, while so little regard is paid to the phenomena 

 of nature, or the theories of the philosopher, that a scientific 

 magazine is nearly always a bad speculation, in a pecuniary 

 point of view. 



Mr. Sturgeon published several useful elementary works, 

 of which the principal are : — " Lectures on Electricity, deli- 

 vered in the Royal Victoria Gallery in 1841-42 ;" "A Course 

 of Twelve Elementary Lectures on Galvanism;" and "A 

 Familiar Explication of the Theory and Practice of Electro- 

 gilding and Electro-silvering." He also prepared a transla- 



