Notices respecting Ke's Books. 215 



Philosophie chimiquc, ou Notiojn; gcncrales sur la physique 

 et la chimie. Par L. C. M. Leboullenger, Ingenieur des 

 Mines. 8vo. 260 pages. Paris, 1824. 



Preparing for Publication. 



The following Proposals have been circulated for Publish- 

 ing a Work to be called '* Records of Mining^ 



Xo question has been more frequently asked by tliose who 

 are interested in the mines of Great Britain, or who wish 

 for information on the art of minuig, than "What books are 

 there upon the subject ? " To which no other answer can be given 

 than that scarcely any exist, and that, of tlie ver\- few extant, 

 there are certainly none which describe the mines in their ac- 

 tual state, or which explain the various improvements of later 

 times. That the relations of various matters concexning under- 

 takings so important are devoid of interest is not to be pre- 

 sumed ; and, as the eager spirit of speculation which marks 

 the present period will stimulate inquiry into subjects con- 

 nected with mining, it is probable that a work, having for its 

 object to supply the want in this department of practical 

 science, would meet with encouragement, if conducted in a 

 manner to do justice to the subject. France has long had its 

 Journal des Mines ,■ and though that country possesses but 

 few mineral treasures, yet not only has a periodical publi- 

 cation been supported, but the nation has also its esta- 

 blishments for mining education: while England, Mhich pro- 

 duces a greater bulk, at least, of metallic ores tlian perhaps 

 all other countries combined, possesses neitlier >sTiters on the 

 subject, nor a school of the art or of tlie sciences unniedi- 

 ately connected with it. 



To produce a work such as is now projected is not an easv 

 task, nor would it be prudent to promise much. The persons 

 who know most of the subject are from habit and constant oc- 

 cupation unable to write at length, or to communicate much of 

 the results of their experience ; slill there are man}' facts which 

 continually present themselves to observation, all record of 

 which is lost for want of a proper depository for them ; and 

 not only is a quantity of valuable matter occurring in the re- 

 ports and statements of our British mines, but much more 

 will now reach us from tliose countries in which English capi- 

 tal is eni]iloyed. 



A perfect knowledge of miningought to correct any tendency 

 to indiscreet speculation : the object of this work will be to 

 advance the one, and thus to control the otlier. All statements, 

 therefore, will be received with caution, and will be expected 

 to be authenticated by satisfactory evidence: a careful exa- 

 mination 



