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XXXII. Notices refpe^tng New Books. 



Elements of Chemiflry. By Joseph Francis jACauiN. 

 Tranllated from the German. 8vo. 



jf\ SECOND edition of this work has made its appear- 

 ance ; a proof of the favourable reception it has experienced 

 from the pubHc. We have no hefitation in faying that it is 

 a ufeful work, and ought to make a part of every chemical 

 library. The lanffuage poflTelTes that precifion which confti- 

 tnies the chief merit of a tranflation, efpecialiy from a fcien- 

 tific or practical work. It is by Mr. Stutzer. 



A Syjlevi of Chem'ijJry. /?>< Th o M A s Th o M s o N, M.D. 

 4 Vols. 8vo. i8o3. 



The talk of compofing elementary trcatifes, as the author 

 jullly obferves, has in lliis coimtry been ufually left to men 

 of inferior endowments, as a piece of drudgery below the 

 dio-nlty of a philofopher; while in France, excellent fyftem- 

 atic treatifes have appeared on almoft every part of fcience by 

 men of the firft abilities. Though we can rank feveral di- 

 (line-uilhed names among our authors of elementary works, 

 it is certain that '^ we have more frequently fatisfied ourfelves 

 with tranflating the fyftematic works of foreigners, even when 

 the difcoveries of our own philofophers had furniflied a con- 

 fiderable portion of the materials of thefe works. The con- 

 fequence has been, what was naturally to be expedlcd, the 

 labours of our philofophers have been frequently overlooked, 

 and their difcoveries claimed by others to whom they did not 

 belong; while thefe claims, conliantly inculcated in all the 

 e!emen»ary treatifes of chemiltrv, have been received as firft 

 principles by the greater nmnber of readers. It is incontro- 

 vertible, that, for the rapid progiefs which chemiflry has 

 lately made, the fcience is deeply indebted to the philofo- 

 phers of this country. MucJi, indeed, has been done by the 

 illurtrious body of French chcmifis; but thefe gentlemen, 

 not fatisfied with a part, have laid claim to the whole." 



The author ftates his work to have for its objeft the giving 

 a full detail of the vaft number of facts which conftitutc che- 

 miftrv, blended with the hidory of their gradual development, 

 and of the theories which have been founded on them, and 

 accompanied with exa£l references to the original works in 

 which the different difcoveries have been regiftered. It is 

 but juftice to fay, that Dr. Thomfon has executed the tafk he 

 has undertaken in a manner creditable to himfelf. His work 



prefcnls 



