SO Notices respecting Neiu Books. 



only for a limited time : life itself is a boon which is only 

 lent to serve the purposes of infinite beneficence. At the 

 proper period oxygen, or some other powerful agent, effects 

 the decomposition of the curious fabric, and sets all the ele- 

 mentary particles at liberty, to form other equally perfect 

 and complicated existences, 



" Which thus, alternating with death, fulfil 

 The silent mandates of the Almighty's will ; 

 Whose hand, unseen, the works of nature dooms 

 By laws unknown, — who gives and who resumes." 



The chapter of Experiments concludes with the following 

 note: — " To read or practise the foregoing experiments 

 merelv for the sake of amusement, may occasionally have 

 its advantages ; but a resolution to repeat them, and examine 

 all the phenomena, for the sole purpose of receiving instruc- 

 tion, is what the author would principally inculcate. Let 

 it never be forgotten, that 720 effect, however extraordinary, 

 or even trivia!, it may appear to us, can ever happen but in 

 consequence of some previously established law of unerring 

 nature. The following apostrophe of Dr. Darwin to the 

 Fountain of all goodness, may possibly tend to impress this 

 important truth upon the student's mind : 



" Thus, at thy potent, nod, effect and cause 

 Walk hand in hand, accordant to thy laws; 

 Rise at volition's call, in groups cornbin'd, 

 Amuse, delight, instruct, and serve mankind." 



Prefixed to this work is " An address to parents on the 

 importance of an early cultivation of the understanding, and 

 on the advantages of giving youth a taste for chemical in- 

 quiries," in which the use of chemical knowledge to the 

 superin'endants of a variety of manufactories is pointed out 

 in considerable detail, and placed in several striking points 

 of view. 



We cannot conclude without strongly recommending this 

 work, not only lor the instruction of youth and mechanics, 

 but also to Chemists, as furnishing an admirable epitome of 

 chemistry, and as giving a number of new observations 

 chiefly relating to the manual part of the science. It is not 



written 



