380 Notices of Books. [July, 
Author then gives an account of the various methods in which a 
transit of Venus may be utilised, namely, the determination of 
the times of contact, at different stations, of known longitudes, 
and the determination of the least distance between the centres 
of the sun and Venus during the transit, as observed from dif- 
ferent stations. This last determination may be conducted either 
photographically, heliometrically, or by the method of durations. 
‘These methods and the needful apparatus are described at some 
length. We cannot help referring to the photographic method 
as a beautiful example of the inter-dependence of the sciences, 
and how one may furnish methods to another. Who would have 
dreamed, half a century ago, that chemistry would—in photo- 
graphy and spe¢troscopy—turnish the astronomer with two novel 
and valuable means of research ? The book concludes with an 
account of the stations selected by various nations, and an enu- 
meration of the English observers. 
To every one who, without making astronomy his speciality, 
wishes to have a full and clear knowledge of this subject in all 
its bearings, Prof. Forbes’s book is indispensable. 
The Province of Psychology. The Inaugural Address at the 
First Meeting (April 14, 1875) of the Psychological Society 
of Great Britain. By the President, Mr. Serjeant Cox. 
London: Longmans and Co. 
Tus Address is, in the fullest sense of the word, ‘“ inaugural.” 
Its object throughout is to define the work of the Society, and 
this object is admirably carried out. In the Preface we are told 
that the Psychological Society embraces no creed, supports no 
faith, contemplates no theory, has no latent designs, but proposes 
only to collect facts and investigate psychological phenomena, 
precisely as other scientific societies investigate the phenomena 
of their respective branches of knowledge; and, further, that a 
very erroneous notion respecting its objects appears to prevail, 
viz., that it has been established with a special view to the pro- 
motion of a new faith, to which the name of “ Spiritualism ” has 
been given. ‘This notion is vigorously and authoritatively con- 
tradicted by Serjeant Cox, and the undeviating tone of the 
Address throughout is in perfe¢t harmony with such contradic- 
tion. If Spiritualism be a delusion, and if the Psychological 
Society rigidly and vigorously follow the course which Serjeant 
Cox has mapped out for it, this Society will assuredly do more 
than has ever been done hitherto towards the removal of the de- 
lusion ; if, on the other hand, the error is on the other side, its 
refutation will ultimately be effected by the same means. 
‘The function of the Society, as defined in this Address, is to 
apply to all questions connected with “ Life, Mind, and Soul” 
