212 Notices respecting New Books. 



form, together with the correspondence ah-eady printed in the 

 Philosophical Magazine, and accompanied by some animad- 

 versions on the soundness ofour judgement in the performance 

 of our editorial duty in the present case. 



The Editors of this Journal have moi'e than once had oc- 

 casion to deprecate the uncourteous style and acrimonious 

 feeling too often, and most unnecessarily, introduced into sci- 

 entific controversy ; and in several instances they have, as in 

 the present case, judged it right to refuse to allow those pages 

 to be occupied with angry personalities, which should be devoted 

 to the advancement of knowledge. The present Editor is fully 

 disposed to pursue the same course, as most agreeable to him- 

 self and most advantageous to the cause of science. 



In the present instance the Editor must rest his justification 

 entirely on the tone and temper of Mr. Lindley's letters : he 

 is quite at a loss to find anything in the first letter of Sir 

 J. E. Smith that could call for the style which Mr.Lindley has 

 unfortunately adopted, and against which, with the most friendly 

 feelings towards that gentleman, he thought it right to protest. 

 The first letter of Sir J. E. Smith, instead of being intended as 

 an attack on Mr. Lindley, originated, as the Editor is fully 

 persuaded, in die kindness of the writer towards himself, and 

 a wish to assist the Philosophical Magazine by an occasional 

 contribution. 



Mr. Lindley alleges that he has only " imitated the contro- 

 versial manner peculiar to Sir J. E. Smith" ! Here the Editor is 

 completely at issue with him ; and concludes by confidently 

 appealing to the entire difterence of their " controversial man- 

 ner " as his justification for declining to insert the reply, wholly 

 disavowing those partial or prudential motives which are sug- 

 gested in this pamphlet. 



Recentlij imhlislied. 



The Second Part of the Philosophical Transactions of the 

 Royal Society for 1 824, has just appeared, and the following 

 are its contents: 



Some curious Facts respecting the Walrus and Seal, dis- 

 covered by the Examination of Specimens brought to England 

 by the different Ships lately returned from the Polar Circle. 

 By Sir Everard Home, Bart. V. P.R.S. In a Letter addressed 

 to Sir Hum|)hry Davy, Bart. Pres. R.S. — Additional Experi- 

 ments and Observations on the A})plication of Electrical Com- 

 binations to the Preservation of the Copper Sheathing of 

 Ships, and to other purposes. By Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. 

 Pres. R.S.* — On the Apparent Direction of Eyes in a Por- 



* Given ill the present Number, p. 203. 



trait. 



