56 Notices respecling New Books. 



fbund information ; habits of keen observation and persevering 

 inquiry- ; sensible, candid and ingenuous ; M. Dupin has 

 brought with him exactly those qualities which are best fitted to 

 enable him to form a just appreciation of the merits of our in- 

 stitutions, and to recommend them to the notice of his country- 

 men. The highly favourable impression left upon us by the vo- 

 hime which he published in 1818, <' Sur la Marine, et les Fonts 

 et Chaussees de France et d'Angleterre,"made us turn with avidity 

 to two additional volumes embracing the same course of inquiry; 

 and it is witli pleasure we have to record the increased satisfaction 

 with which we have perused this continuation of his valuable la- 

 bours. 



The present volumes are devoted to the military branch of our 

 establisliments. The first relates to the organization of the army 

 and ordnance ; and is especially of a political nature. The se- 

 cond treats of our military schools, our arsenals, our forts, and 

 other works of defence ; and is accompanied with an atlas of 

 plates in folio, satisfactory enough in point of accuracy of draw- 

 ing, though inferior in every other respect to the productions of 

 our own school of engraving. In this part we meet with a good 

 deal of matter wliich is strictly of a scientific nature ; and in 

 some of our future Numbers we shall take an opportunity of 

 bringing what is of this description more particularly under the 

 notice of our readers. 



A Treatise on Heat, Flame, and Comhuslion. ByT. H. Pasley. 



This is a very adventurous production. The author avows 

 that he has broached opinions in these pages which " will ap- 

 pear to the chemist and philosopher not only peijeclly new, but 

 tlie very contrary of what have been universally admitted, and 

 on which the fabric of science at present is built." Mr. P. how- 

 ever entreats a dispassionate investigation of the principles he 

 has laid down, and this on a ground which might justify a higher 

 tone of challenge. " So far as they are sufficient to account for 

 the phcenomena of nature without any exception whatever — so 

 far only" docs he ask that they should be considered " worthy of 

 .-.ttention." 



The inquiry embraced by this new theory, is of too general a 

 diaracter to admit of any justice being done to it within the 

 space to which our analytical notices of new works is restricted. 

 We must therefore content ourselves with referring the reader 

 to the work itself, which he will find at least ingenious in its 

 conceptions, if not invincible in its conclusions, and withal clearly 

 and well written. The following outline of the heads of the 

 work is furnished by the author himself : 



" Natural bodies not objects of perception j and their existence 



known 



