226 Notices respecting New Books. 



himself to their accurate adjustment, and to applying the pro- 

 per corrections*. The instruments commonly sold are mere 

 playthings, and not at all adapted to the present advanced state 

 of physical science. It very rarely happens that two thermo- 

 meters agree, and when it became necessary, for some impor- 

 tant purposes, to procure a standard thermometer, none was 

 found to exist in the hands of any of the artists in London. The 

 case is still worse with the barometer ; in those constructed by 

 the same maker, discrepancies of a quarter of an inch may be 

 detected ; and even in those to which the names of the first art- 

 ists are affixed, it rarely happens that the mercury has been 

 purified by boiling. On this subject our author enters at length, 

 and gives full instructions for the choice and construction of in- 

 struments. We regret that we cannot, consistently with our li- 

 mits, enter fully into these interesting details. 



From this brief and meagre analysis, some idea may be form- 

 ed of the talent and ingenuity displayed by Mr. Daniell in his 

 important work. It must, for many years to come, furnish to 

 the observers of atmospheric phsenomena the text book by 

 which they are to be guided in their researches. By the ap- 

 plication of his rules, and by simultaneous registers, kept in 

 different parts of the world, the science of meteorology, that 

 is now in its infancy, may soon be brought to a comparative 

 degree of perfection. No difficulty need any longer attend the 

 measure of atmospheric pressure and temperature, of the heat 

 of radiation both from the sun and from the earth, of moisture 

 in the air and evaporation from the surface. The quantity of 

 rain and the course of the winds may be readily determined, 

 and the only desiderata that will remain are the phaenomena of 

 atmospheric electricity, and the absolute force of the aerial 

 currents. 



This paper will be considered as having attained its object, 

 should it render the work to which it relates known to the 

 scientific portion of the American community, and should it 

 awaken some interest in the subject, among persons whose ac- 

 quirements and leisure would qualify them for observers. 



The Monthly Critical Gazette, No. I. for June 1st, con- 

 tains a review of Sir J. E. Smith's English Flora. No more 

 impudent and obvious falsehoods ever appeared on paper. 



The reviewer says on the subject of Graminece, that the 

 author has "not once quoted Beauvais:" but the reader may 

 see in vol. i. the list of authors quoted, and then turn to 

 page 83, line 5 from the bottom ; p. 85, 1. 6 ; p. 94, 1. 8 from 

 the bottom ; p. 96, 1. 2; p. 109, 1. 9 from the bottom ; p. 1 11, 

 * Essay 8th. 



1. 10 



