400 Scientific Intelligence.--^ New Publications. 



NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



1. Essay on the Theory of the Earth. By Baron Geouge 

 Cuvier; with Geological Illustrations by Professor Jame- 

 son. Fifth edition. Translated from the last French edition, 

 with numerous additions by the Author and Translator. 

 Eleven Plates. Blackwood, Edinburgh ; Cadell, London. 

 14s. 



On the suggestion of Professor Jameson, the celebrated es- 

 say of Cuvier was translated by the late Robert Kerr, Esq. 

 F. R. S. E., and under the revisal of the present editor, who 

 also added to the original a series of notes and illustrations. 

 The success of the work was great. It was speedily repub- 

 lished in America, and translated, with its notes and illustra- 

 tions, into the German and Italian languages. Another edi- 

 tion was soon required. This, in its turn, was speedily ex- 

 hausted. Although, in the third edition, as in the former, the 

 impression, was great, a fourth and enlarged edition appeared 

 in 1822. The present, which is the Jifth edition, is translated 

 from the last edition of the illustrious author, and may be con- 

 sidered nearly as a new work, from the numerous additional 

 facts and views which it contains. The many thousand copies 

 of this work now circulated throughout the British Empire, and 

 indeed in every country where the English language is known^ 

 is a proof not only of the very general interest excited by geo- 

 logical facts and reasonings, but also of the absurdity of the opi- 

 iiion still entertained by some of the inutility of this branch of 

 natural history. On this subject. Professor Jameson, in the 

 preface to the present edition, has the following remarks : 



" Geology, now deservedly one of the most popular and attractive of the 

 physical sciences, was, not many years ago, held in little estimation ; and, 

 even at present, there are not wanting some who do not hesitate to maintain, 

 that it is a mere tissue of ill observed phenomena, and of hypotheses of bound- 

 less extravagance. The work of Cuvier now laid before the public, contains, 

 in itself, not only a complete answer to these ignorant imputations, but also 

 demonstrates the accuracy, extent and importance of many of the flicts and 

 reasonings of this delightful branch of Natural History. Can it be maintain- 

 ed of a science, which requires for its successful prosecution an intimate ac- 

 quaintance with Chemistry, Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, — with the 

 details and views of Zoology, Botany and Mineralogy, and Avhich connects 

 these different departments of knowledge in a most interesting and striking 

 manner, — that it is of no value ? Can it be maintained of Geology, which 

 discloses to us the history of the first origin of organic beings, and traces 

 their gradual developem^nt from the monade to man himselfj-~which enu- 



