Miscellanies. 185 
danger to which they are most exposed, and of which we have lately 
had some unpleasant instances, that of becoming the arena of unfor- 
tunate disputes, is a strong proof of the interest which they excite. 
From all such dangers we trust that the “ Miscellany,” will be pre- 
served by the energetic management of its enlightened editor; and 
our confidence in his abilities, is not a little strengthened by the pe- 
rusal of the excellent dissertations which accompany the present 
number. “ The “ Illustrations of Lagrange,” are highly to be com- 
mended to the student, who is just beginning to apply the formulas 
of the most profound and accomplished of all mathematicians. The 
treatise on Spherical Geometry, is a lucid and an almost entirely origi- 
nal dissertation on the method of applying algebra to the surface of 
the sphere, in the same way as it is applied to the plane. ‘The ad- 
vantages are the same in both cases; and the mathematician is 
equally well enabled to give an algebraic dress to any enquiry, with- 
out perplexing his mind with geometrical considerations. But the 
chief source of interest will probably be found in the questions which 
are proposed to be solved in the succeeding number; and, after a 
careful examination of them, we feel authorized in recommending 
them as skillfully selected, with a proper regard to variety and diffi- 
culty, and we add as the result of our experience, that a better ac- 
quaintance with any mathematical subject, may be derived from the 
solution of a single problem, than from reading a volume upon it, 
and it is only by the continual solution of problems, that the use of 
mathematical tools can be acquired, and the inventive powers be 
matured. We are too prone to consider the mere reader of mathe- 
matics as a mathematician, whereas he does not much more deserve 
the name, than the reader of poetry deserves that of poet. There 
are indeed exceptions to this remark, and there are works which 
none but a bona fide mathematician could read. Thus Laplace did 
little more than give the results of his calculations to the world; so 
that the thorough reading of the Mecanique Celeste, in the original, 
involves the frequent solution of the most difficult problems, and 
none but a mathematician of the highest genius, could have achieved 
the finished translation with the splendid commentary upon it, which 
only our country has been able to produce. 
9. Boston Journal of Natural History.—The 3d No. of Part I, 
this important publication has recently appeared. A large part 
of the number is occupied by the first portion of a paper of the late 
Vou. XXXI.—No. 1. 24 
