1825.] 
cordingly, is not merely distinguished by his know- 
ledge of particular theories, as to the arrangement 
and distribution of the powers of the mind, but by 
the command which he has acquired of his faculties, 
so as to apply them, as occasion may require, in the 
prosecution of science, of art, or of business. ‘ It 
has been unfortunately forgotten,’ says Dr. Barrow, 
* that communication of truth is only one-half of the 
business of education, and is not even the most im- 
portant half. The most important part is the habit 
of employing to some good purpose the acquisitions 
of memory, by the exercise of the understanding 
about them.’” 
Appendix to Euclid’s Elements : cuntain- 
ing Original Propositions in Geometry, de- 
signed for the Young Student, as Evxercises 
under the various Propositions in Evuclid’s 
Eleinentsand Data. ByI. Newton. 8yo. 
—* However, (says the author in his pre- 
face), in order to become a geometrician, 
it is not enough to read Euclid’s Ele- 
ments: the student must have SOMETHING 
more on which to exercise his ingenuity” 
—therefore, Mr. Newton presents them 
with one deduction from each of that great 
master’s propositions: and we will not 
take upon ourselyes to say but that some 
of these may be original. Mr. N. adds, 
also, 140 promiscuous propositions (which 
are, perhaps, equally original), and some 
exercises in trigonometry, and a new me- 
thod of transferring maps, &c. As this 
volume lay on our up-heaped table, we 
promised ourselves much enjoyment when 
we might be able to peruse it. The reader 
may judge of our disappointment at finding, 
when the wished-for moment came, little 
more than a collection of problems, which 
had been the familiar subjects of our medi- 
tation—lang syne. To the tyro, then, we 
commend it; fearing, that if he avail not 
himself of its contents, no one else will 
pay much attention to this supplementary 
Euclid. 
A Catechism on the Works of Creation ; 
intended to assist Parents, or Tutors, in 
conveying to the Youthful Mind a general 
Knowledge of the Objects of Nature, with suit- 
able Reflections. By P.SMiTH, A.M., du- 
thor of ‘* A Practical Guide to the Compo- 
sition of the English Language,” &c. 16mo. 
—A Catechism of this—a Catechism of 
that—when will there be an end of Cate- 
chisms? Our present author, in his pre- 
face, tells us, ‘“‘ Among the modern im- 
provements in the system of tuition, the 
introduction of Catechisms on the Arts 
and Sciences, may justly be regarded as 
one of great importance, as they contain 
the most essential branches of knowledge, 
abridged, &c.’? — Shall we say Aye to 
this ? Certes, the aycs have it: but look to 
that word abridged—take special care that 
these “ dull abridgments” (epithets which 
haye been applied even to Goldsmith’s and 
Robinson’s Histories, &c.) are not driven 
into the heads of youthful scholars, and 
the reading classes of society (as Mr, 
Smith speaks) to the total exclusion of 
those works from which they are con- 
Domestic and Foreign. 
253 
tracted. Notwithstanding the rapidity with 
which we are obliged to get over the con- 
tracted space allotted to this part of our 
work, Mr. Smith must pardon us for ex- 
tracting one query, and one answer, from a 
little book, which he states to be “ defec- 
tive in many respects.” / 
«« Q. Does not heat as well as light proceed from 
the sun? Tell me next what are its properties.” 
Page 9. 
«« 4, The springs that issue from the ground, or 
from mountains, percolate through the different 
strata of the soil, fructify the earth in all directions, 
and furnish water to quench our thirst.” Page 22. 
Is this the way in which these abridg- 
ments are to simplify the comprehension of 
science ? 
A Manual of Pharmacy. By W. T. 
BRANDE, F.R.S. Underwoods, 1825.—'The 
high reputation of Mr. Brande as one of 
the first chemists of the day, is sufficient 
passport to the scientific reader for any 
work emanating from his pen. The pre- 
sent work appears to be of that interme- 
diate character, between a pharmacopeia 
and a popular treatise on the virtues of the 
respective pharmaceutical preparations ; 
which is not only highly interesting to the 
general reader, but possesses the far 
more valuable quality, of applying the pre- 
sent advanced state of chemical knowledge 
to the modus operandi of such preparations 
on the human body. Such a work will 
not, of course, admit of any extracts in our 
brief space. But the observations of Mr. 
Brande on all those substances (according 
to alphabetical arrangement) which are 
liable to prove poisonous, are extremely 
lucid and judicious. And his “ Manual” 
has the great merit of being written in a 
style of simplicity, within the comprehen- 
sion of any scientific or intelligent reader, 
instead of being loaded with the techni- 
calities which have hitherto served to ob- 
scure many able works on medical science. 
A Letter to the Editors of the Philosophical 
Magazine and Journal, upon the Correspon- 
dence between Sir James Edward Smith and 
Mr, Lindley, which has lately appeared in 
that Journal. By Joun LinvLEy, Esgq., 
F.L.s. &e. &c.—This pamphlet deserves at- 
tention, as exposing that ‘illiberal party- 
spirit which finds its way into almost every 
thing in this country—even science. Every 
botanist in Europe, excepting Sir James 
E. Smith, allows, it is affirmed, that the 
French are pre-eminent in that science. 
Mr. Lindley calls the attention of the 
public to a new theory of vegetation, by 
M. Aubert du Petit Thouars, expressing 
his surprise, that it has not been noticed 
here by the compilers of elementary works 
on botany. Sir James E: Smith, it is said, 
who despises all French works, ac- 
knowledges he perused Du Petit Thouars’ 
theory, for the first time, in the Philoso- 
phical Magazine, yet professes to have had 
the same opinions, since 1807, Mr. Lind- 
ley 
