154 Analysis of Scientific Bouks. 
We have now presented our readers with an outline of the 
arrangement and contents of this valuable work, in the hope 
that its perusal may induce them to refer to the original, and 
that it may usefully direct their notice to the main points and 
grand divisions of geological study. We must, at the same 
time, confess that we have entirely passed over much valuable 
information, especially that relating to the foreign localities of 
.ocks, with a view of rendering our account of the work as 
perspicuous as lay in our power, and of directing the student 
to the great landmarks which principally call for his undivided 
attention. One observation we ask leave to suggest to the 
authors, which is, whether they have not occasionally obscured 
their narrative, by long lists of organic remains, repulsive from 
their crabbed orthography, and unintelligible to the geological 
student in their present unillustrated form? We do not mean 
to undervalue these catalogues, but think they would have been 
better placed in an Appendix, or as notes. At the same time, 
there are, in other places, so many useful and interesting 
pieces of information distributed through the notes, that we 
could wish to see them promoted to the superincumbent text. 
We also think that the pains which are taken to assign to each 
author his respective contributions, give the book, in some 
places, an air of affectation, and in others of confusion and 
circumlocution. Mr. Phillips’s former work has amply pub- 
lished his claims to the merit of a skilful compiler and accurate 
observer; and the improved features of the present ‘* Outlines,” 
the general clearness of the arrangement, and, above all, the 
important practical details and local illustrations which they 
contain, ‘sufficiently shew how much he is indebted to the zeal 
and information of his reverend coadjutor. 
II. Conversations on Mineralogy, with Plates, engraved by 
Mr. and Miss Lowry, from Original Drawings. In 2 
vols., 1822. 
Foreigners shall no longer accuse the English of tacitur- 
nity; we have Conversations on Chemistry,—Conversations 
on Natural History,—Conversations on Political Economy,— 
Conversations on Mineralogy,—and, to crown all, Conversations 
on Algebra! The first of these in the order of appearance, 
as well as merit, were the Conversations on Chemistry,—a de- 
lightful little work, most admirably adapted to its purpose, 
the initiation of young persons in the elements of that alluring 
science. Its success almost equalled its merit, and we do not 
wonder that the rapid sale of edition after edition, to the 
present eighth of this, A.D. 1822, should have induced suc-~ 
