350 Analysis of Sdentijic Books. 



of Dr. WoUaston, or of Sir Humphry Davy, we should indeed 

 expect to be instructed and edified by their incursions into the 

 truly philosophical and speculative regions of their science: 

 the former would surprise us by the profound and accurate 

 solidity of his judgment in regard to theoretical points; and 

 the latter would enchain our attention by the brilliancy of his 

 generalizations, and the happy talent which he so eminently 

 possesses, of seizing upon remote analogies and bringing them 

 to bear upon new investigations and discoveries. But as we 

 fear that neither Dr. Wollaston nor Sir H. Davy, who already sit 

 " enthroned in the uppermost chambers" will ever condescend 

 to the drudgery of compilation which has not inaptly been com- 

 pared to the labour of the anvil and the forge, we must rest 

 content with, and should indeed feel grateful to, those who 

 employ that measure of time and talent which they possess, in 

 arranging and collecting the insulated and scattered facts of 

 chemistry into a tangible aggregate, provided they perform 

 their task with judgment and candour, and not in that sour 

 and distorting vein of peevish petulance for which we have 

 lately had occasion to reprimand a writer, whose general in- 

 formation and indefatigable diligence promised at one time to 

 render him eminent amongst British Systematists. But, to be 

 brief, we would have chemical writers bestow more time upon 

 the real business of the laboratory, and less upon matters of 

 opinion and speculation ; not in detailing the fighres of retorts 

 and receivers, nor in descanting upon the art of filling soap 

 bubbles with hydrogen gas, but in describing faithfully and 

 minutely the various obstacles that oppose the student's pro- 

 gress in the common processes of experiment, as well as in the 

 more refined and difficult branches of analysis. We are no 

 admirers of Scientific Catechisms, nor do we profess profound 

 reverence for Messrs. Longmans' manufactory of Philosophical 

 Conversations ; but we venture to suggest that even from these 

 humble sources, for it is said there are sermons even in stones, 

 some hints might be derived, useful to the systematic writer; 

 at least, he might learn from them the mode of addressing be- 

 ginners in the study, which though he is too apt to forget it, 

 constitutes a main part of his calling as an instructor- 



But, to return to Dr. Gorham ; the second volume includes the 

 history of the metals and of organic substances. As our author 

 has omitted all mineralogical and geological details, he might 

 have greatly improved his introductory chapter on the metals, 

 if he had sketched their natural history; he might also have 

 introduced in this place, some few historical particulars re- 

 specting them, which are interesting and important to the student, 

 and which we have looked for in vain, in other parts of his 

 book ; with these exceptions, however. Dr. G. has given a good 

 general sketch of the chemical habitudes of this class of bodies. 



