1874.] Notices of Books. 399 
The scientific and technological journals of France, Germany, 
Holland, Switzerland, Italy, and Denmark, as well as of America 
and England, have been carefully laid under contribution. 
Hence paragraphs found in this volume may be quoted or ap- 
pealed to with a reasonable amount of confidence. Another 
useful feature is, that not merely the names of the journals 
quoted are given, but the date and the page, so that it is easy to 
verify any citation, or, in case of on abstract, to find full parti- 
culars. That such an arrangement much enhances the value of 
any work of this class is obvious. The classification is also 
natural, or scientific, which is the same thing. 
To an Englishman, perhaps the most interesting feature of the 
book will be found in the notices of various American institutions 
for the promotion of science. In this respect we cannot help 
expressing the fear that America is evincing greater energy, 
greater liberality, than ourselves. Of this we find many in- 
stances. The museum at Yale College has secured the finest 
specimen of the pterodactyl ever discovered. The British 
Museum was negotiating for the purchase, but our rivals over 
the Atlantic telegraphed to the owner to name his price, and 
paid it. What have we in England equivalent to the Stevens 
Institute of Technology at Hoboken, founded, it must be remem- 
bered, by the munificence of a private individual? How few 
instances do we hear in England of bequests or donations to 
museums, free public libraries, and institutions for training up 
discoverers and inventors! The liberality of our wealthy men 
seems to take every channel rather than this. We do not at all 
think that in natural aptitude for the successful study of 
Science the British and Irish nations are inferior to any people 
on the globe. But supremacy in this respect, just as in war, 
can no longer be attained by the spontaneous and desultory 
efforts of individuals. General, systematic, persistent action is 
wanted. Original research has to be conducted on a changed 
ground, and can no longer, as in the days of Scheele, or even of 
Davy, be effected with a few phials, tobacco-pipes, gallipots, and 
saucers. The influences which Decandolle finds most powerful 
in ‘advancing science, by increasing the number of those who 
prosecute it in the right spirit, are, first, a well-organised system 
of instruction, independent of parties, tending to awaken research 
and to assist young persons devoting themselves to science; 
second, abundant and well-organised material means for scientific 
work, libraries, observatories, laboratories, collections, &c. ; third, 
freedom of utterance, and publication of any opinion on scientific 
subjects without grave inconvenience.” To what extent are 
these influences at work among us? We have museums; some 
of them placed where they are accessible to few but fashionable 
idlers ; others carefully closed in the evening, on public holidays, 
and, in fact, at every time save what are called “hours of 
business.”” We have libraries open to the same charges, whilst 
