1872.] Notices of Books. 507 
Life of Richard Trevithick, with an Account of his Inventions. 
By Francis TreEvitHIck, C.E. Illustrated with Engravings 
on Wood, by W. J. WetcH. Volume I. London: E. and 
F.N. Spon. 1872. 
Very little has been said or recorded of Trevithick that is now 
known to the general reader; yet the history of his inventions 
is almost one with an account of the steam-engine, especially 
with the earlier forms employed in mining operations. That 
the present biography is written with a loving hand may at once 
be gathered; and the book is remarkable from the fact that, 
though the pen has been taken up by a friend, the faults and 
peculiar temperament of the subject of the biography are by no 
means glossed over. The true character of Trevithick is caused 
to appear through the letters and documents of which the 
biography, as written by Mr. Francis Trevithick, may be consi- 
dered the setting. The work might also be called a history of 
the steam-engine, and in its twofold character will be doubly 
welcome to the student of this branch of engineering science. 
The illustrations are capitally arranged, being at the same time 
ornamental and descriptive. The book will be read with advan- 
tage by all, while, as a record of the details of the progress of 
steam, it will occupy a prominent place in the front ranks of 
scientific literature. 
Modern Examples of Road and Railway Bridges ; illustrating 
the most Recent Practice of Leading Engineers in Europe 
and America. By Witutam H. Maw and JAMEs DREDGE. 
London: Offices of ‘ Engineering,” 37, Bedford Street, 
Strand. Berlin: A. Asher and Co., 11, Unter den Linden. 
1872. 
WITHOUT in any way desiring to deny the value of sound theo- 
retical knowledge as to the principles of bridge-building, it must 
be admitted that, in the construction of such works, many cir- 
cumstances may be expected to arise wholly beyond the reach 
of any previous calculations. The treatment of such occur- 
rences successfully requires often a master mind, possessed of 
good practical skill rather than of theoretical refinement; and 
this can only be obtained by experience, accompanied by a 
knowledge of what has previously been accomplished. For this 
reason any publication which deals in a scientific manner with 
the best known achievements in any branch of modern science 
cannot fail to prove a valuable contribution to scientific litera- 
ture. Of such a character is the volume now before us, which 
contains accounts of upwards of seventy bridges, of a variety 
of types of construction, sele¢ted—as stated by the joint 
authors in their preface—so as to iliustrate the most recent 
practice of the leading engineers of this country, of the Conti- 
