Royal Society. 311 



offer. The treatise Is written in a concise nnd perspicuous man^ 

 ner. But as the knowledge of mere facts docs not constitute a 

 science, the author has added his rationale to each individual 

 experiment, so as to interest the mind, and to enable the young 

 chemist to contemplate the phsenomena with advantage, and their 

 relation and consequence. All the experiments are well se- 

 lected, and well calculated to unfold the wonderful changes which 

 various bodies are susceptible of in their mutual action upon each 

 -other. The following experiments, among many others, cannot 

 fail to diffuse mirth and surprise through a friendly circle unac- 

 quainted with chemical science. To cause ivater to bod by the 

 application of cold, and to cause it to boil by the application, of 

 heat, p. \.—To set a combustible body on fire by the contact of 

 cold ivater, p. \A.—Heat and cold produced by the same body 

 at the same thine and at the same temperature, p. 29. — Thn^e 

 metals, when brought into contact with each other, take fire 

 spontaneously, p. i^.— Illustration of the art of calico printing, 

 p, 253. — Of soap boiling, p. 'liVO.— Of bkachtng, 262, &c. 

 The plates of the work are executed with great neatness and 

 fidelity; they exhibit the most essential chemical apparatus for 

 carrying on experiments in the small way ; and the whole of the 

 work is singularly well adapted to answer the purpose for vvhich 

 it is intended, namely; to blend chemical science with rational 



amusement. 



Whittle and Laurie have announced the publication, m two 

 parts, of a general description of, and directions for, tlie coasts of 

 Brazil, from Maranham in the north, to Rio de Janeiro and 

 Santos in the south ; accompanied with three large and elegant 

 charts of the coast and harbours, from the surveys of Lieut. 

 Hewett, R.N. and others; and in which, from original observa- 

 tions, the enormous errors of all preceding charts and directions 

 for these coasts have been obviated. 



An essay on a species of mosaic pavement, formed of right- 

 angled triangles of different colours ; with the method of calcu- 

 lating the number of their combinations : illustrated by a series 



of engravings. By N. J. Larkin. 



The first volume of the Transactions of the Royal Geological 

 Society of Cornwall, will, it is expected, be ready for publication 

 in the course of Mav. 



LIV. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 



April 23. A PAPER was read by Mr. Pond, Astronomer Royal, 

 on the Parallax of Alpha Jquila, in which he states the result 



U 4 of 



