310 Notices respecting New Books. 



sacrifices which this conquest of knowledge and of industry has 

 cost. 



All the world knows the immense services rendered by the men 

 of science in France, in extracting from the soil of France those 

 means of defence which it required, when the other nations of 

 Europe precipitated themselves with all their power upon her. 

 The efforts whicii it was necessary to make for this purpose gave 

 an impulse to the useful arts, which is still felt and will long con- 

 tinue to be felt. 



AmoRg the oeconomical arts which have experienced the most 

 remarkable extension, and which new or more improved pro- 

 cesses have regenerated, are the manufactures of cotton thread 

 and cotton cloth. 



In 17S9 the average value of the cotton goods imported into 

 France, amounted to nearly 26,000,000 of francs; in 1812 it did 

 not exceed a million and a half. 



In 1S12 a million of wheels were in activity, and spun 

 10,000,000 kilogrammes of cotton annually. 



The art of manufacturing cloth is a branch of industry in 

 ■which the French have alvvavs excelled. 



Among their most beautiful fabrics the cachemires of M. Ter- 

 naux may be distinguished, as yielding not even to those of India, 

 and as likely to become the first in the world, if the goats which 

 this ingenious and enterprising speculator has imported should 

 come to be naturalized in France. 



At the head of the improvers of an important and difficult 

 branch of art — that of watch-making — stands M.Breguet. — 

 MM. Janvier, Pons, Lepaute Robin, follow in his steps. Fortin 

 and Lenoir have carried to a high pitch of perfection the con- 

 struction of philosophical instruments. 



The chemical present results even more astonishing than the 

 mechanical arts. 



The chemical manufactories of France are the finest in Eu- 

 rope. M. Chaptal was the first to organize and perfect these 

 scientific establishments. Every one knows how much the prepa- 

 ration of wines owes to his genius. The distillation of brandy and 

 of spirits of all sorts has been also greatly improved by the united 

 labours of MM. Chaptal, Argand, and especially Edward Adam. 



The distillation of wood for the purpose of extracting vinegar, 

 tar, &c. is an art of French invention, which dates its origin 

 from the revolution. 



The art of rendering waters salubrious by chemical filtration 

 is also among the benefits rendered to humanity. 



Metallurgy in all its branches has assumed a new aspect. Our 

 iron-foundries have been improved, and our cutlery may now 

 stand a competition with the best productions of England. 



Our 



