54 Review of AllarCs Manual of Mineralogy. 



Of late years Mineralogy has extended its alliances to other sci- 

 ences. From examples taken from the mineral kingdom, Mitscher- 

 lich derived his first views of isomorphism ; and by the optical pro- 

 perties of minerals formed in the laboratory of nature, Brewster and 

 Herschel were led to the discovery of laws, that not only explain ob- 

 scure phaenomena, but furnish, in their turn, new instruments for 

 investigating the structure and differences of mineral substances*. 

 With Chemistry, also, the relations of mineralogy are constantly be- 

 coming closer and more numerous, each science rendering to the 

 other the tribute of new facts and new principles. 



It is time, however, to speak of the work before us. It is an un- 

 pretending volume, manifesting great diligence in the collection of 

 its materials, and equal judgement in their arrangement. How much 

 such a book was wanted, every British mineralogist must have sensibly 

 felt. Since the publication of Mr. William Phillips's *' Elementary 

 Introduction to Mineralogy,"(an excellent work for the time, and still 

 valuable on many accounts,) eleven years have elapsed j and nine 

 years have passed since that of Haidinger's Translation of Mohs's 

 work. During that long interval, a vast number of new minerals 

 have been discovered, the accounts of which can only be consulted 

 by laborious search though the periodical records of science. To 

 incorporate these with our previous knowledge was not, as it might 

 be supposed, a work of mere labour. It was quite necessary that 

 the compiler should himself be thoroughly versed in practical mine- 

 ralogy, and qualified to correct and improve the descriptions of pre- 

 vious writers. In the preface, the author informs us that his descrip- 

 tions have in most instances been carefully collated with specimens 

 in the collection of his late father (well known to be almost un- 

 rivalled for its excellence) j and the figures in outline of crystallized 

 minerals have been carefully drawn by himself from the best ex- 

 amples in that cabinet f. The localities and modes of occurrence of 

 minerals, which are numerous and correct, have been assigned from 

 his own observations in the principal mining districts of this country 

 and the Continent. In many instances he has noticed in what pub- 

 lic and private cabinets the best specimens of the rare and most 

 costly minerals may be consulted. 



An " Introduction," prefixed to the volume, conveys elementary 

 information in a manner well adapted to beginners in the science j 

 and a copious index gives the reader access to the almost endless 

 synonyms which have so greatly perplexed mineralogical language. 

 We have no hesitation, then, in pronouncing Mr. Allan's work to be 

 a safe guide for the student, and a valuable book of reference to the 

 experienced mineralogist. *^* 



* See Prof. Whewell's Report on Mineralogy, read at the Meeting of 

 the British Association in 1832; and Sir John llerschel's Preliminary Dis- 

 course, part III. chap. iv. 



t The collection has been publicly announced for sale by auction at 

 Edinburgh about the middle of January. It is earnestly to be hoped that 

 it may become the property of some public Institution, where, by being made 

 accessible to men of science with the same liberality as by its late possessor, 

 its utility may be extended and perpetuated. 



