354 Analysis of Scientific Books. 



of temples and the measurement of pyramids, shall condescend 

 to consult and visit the chemist and the natural philosopher, 

 and to become acquainted with the doctrines of heat and of 

 pneumatics, then, and not till then, may we expect a diminu- 

 tion of the evils which form the subject of this article of our 

 Journal ; and although we are not sanguine enough to antici- 

 pate the re-appearance of orchards in the Strand, or vineyards 

 in Barbican, we should then be justified in looking for a degree 

 of relief from those nuisances and evils which smoke inflicts 

 upon the inliabitants of London. C. 



ii. One Thousand Experiments in Chemistry, with illustrations of 

 Natural Phenomena, and practical Observations on the Manu- 

 facturing and Cheinical Processes at present pursxied in the 

 successful cultivation of the useful Arts, with numerous En- 

 gravings on Wood and Copper. By Colin Mackenzie. 

 London, printed for Sir Richard Phillips & Co., 1821. Price 

 21s. in boards. 



When we consider the manifold and marvellous changes which 

 chemistry effects on natural products, converting the dull and 

 brittle stone into a brilliant metal, to whose adamantine temper 

 the forests yield, and even rocks give way ; turning the bland 

 inflammable sulphur, into a corrosive acid, which extinguishes 

 flame ; extracting from calcined animal bones a substance that 

 takes fire with the heat of the hand, and burns with exceeding 

 splendour; eliminating from the ashes of a wood-fire metallic glo- 

 bules, which kindle and consume by the contact of ice ; or evolv- 

 ing from culinary salt, an aerial element, in which refractory 

 metals burn, even without the aid of heat ; we can readily ima- 

 gine that, in rude and remote times, the metallurgist Vulcan 

 might be worshipped as a demi-god ; that, in a more advanced 

 state of civilization, but amid literary and scientific darkness, 

 the chemical adept might be thought the elect of heaven, as 

 in Egypt ; or the copartner of Satan, as in Gothic Europe ; 

 and finally, that in the present period of philosophical light, the 

 genuine cliemist should rank high in society. The wonders and 

 uses, rewards and honours, which flow from chemistry, have, 

 however, this unpleasant effect ; they tempt multitudes of un- 

 hallowed and uninitiated pretenders to rush into the sanctuary 

 of science ; and, though they are usually soon and unceremo- 

 niously expelled, yet they contrive to persuade the ignorant 

 profane, that they possess in their own right mighty secrets, 

 which they have in fact stolen from the very altar of Hermes. . 



As the English are allowed to surpass all other nations in 

 their funds of cash and credulity, and as the chemical wants 

 and wishes of their manufacturers are numerous and important, 



