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Art. XL— analysis OF SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 



I. De Vemploi du Chalumeau, dans les Analyses Chimiques, et 

 les Determinations Mineralogiques. Par M. Berzelius. Traduit 

 du Suedois, par F. Fresnel. A Paris, 1821. 



The Use of the Blow-pipe in Chemical Analysis, and in the Ex- 

 amination of Minerals. By J. J. Berzelius. Translated from 

 the French ofM. Fresnel, by J. G. Children, F. R.S., &c, 

 London, 1822. 



In the first volume of this Journal, we noticed a former work 

 by M. Berzelius, entitled " An Attempt to establish a Pure 

 Scientific System of Mineralogy," &c., and gave our opinion 

 very decidedly, of the complete failure of that " attempt." It 

 is highly gratifying, that we are enabled to make a very dif- 

 ferent report of the work now before us, and to speak almost 

 as much in its praise, as we did in censure of its predecessor. 

 Before we proceed to the " blow-pipe," however, we must have 

 a few more words, and they shall be the last, with the " at- 

 tempt." 



Our review was of the English translation of that work, by 

 John Black, London, 1814. A copy of the original. Dr. Thorn, 

 son tells us, in the advertisement, was sent him by Professor 

 Berzelius ; on looking over which, " it appeared highly de- 

 serving the attention of mineralogists, and likely, if properly 

 followed up, to occasion a most important improvement in the 

 method of analyzing minerals, and in the scientific arrangement 

 of them." He therefore engaged his friend, Mr. Black, to 

 translate the work, who stipulated that the Doctor should com- 

 pare his manuscript with the original, and " take care that it 

 every where conveyed its sense." " This task," says the Doctor, 

 " I performed with all requisite attention; aiid can, I think, 

 answer with some confidence for the fidelity of the translation." 

 How carefully he revised his friend's manuscript, and how well 

 founded his confidence in its fidelity to the original was, we 

 cannot decide directly from our own knowledge, as we have not 

 the Swedish copy before us. Berzelius, however, has com- 

 plained bitterly of its infidelity, in the Introduction to a fresh 

 translation which he caused to be published in French, under 

 his own immediate inspection, in 1816 *, in consequence of the 

 errors contained in the English copy. Let him speak for him- 

 self. " La traduction Anglaise du meme ouvrage, fut faite mal- 

 heureusement par quelqu'un qui n'a sans doutc aucune notion 

 de mineralogie, car elle est pleine d'erreurs; et dans beaucoup 



* We had not heardof that translation, when our first volume was pub- 

 lished- 



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