148 Royal Society :— 
maintain a well-marked boundary line between physical and 
vital forces. Starting with the abstract notion of force as ema- 
nating at once from the Divine will, we might say that this 
force operating through inorganic matter, manifests itself as 
electricity, magnetism, light, heat, chemical affimity and mecha- 
nical motion; but that when directed through organized struc- 
tures, it effects the operations of growth, development, and che- 
mico-vital transformations.” 
XIX. Notices respecting New Books. 
Elementary Geometrical Drawing. By S. H. Wiser. 
London: Longman, Green, Longman and Roberts. 1859. 
Soe little handbook belongs to a class a great demand for which 
has been created by the recently adopted system of competi- 
tive examinations in connexion with our civil and military services. 
These examinations, intended originally as ¢ests, have very naturally 
become objects of education, and, as such, liable to great abuse. In 
general the demand of which we speak simply expresses a desire to 
pass these examinations with the least possible amount of trouble, 
and not unfrequently it indicates a tendency to evade the true spirit 
of the test. Many of the books written to satisfy this demand, pro- 
fessing to help the candidate through his examination rather than to 
impart to hima thorough knowledge of his subject, are at once inac- 
curate and superficial—in short, purely injurious. On this account, 
rather than for the merits of the best of them, they require to be 
watched and carefully sifted. Convinced of the pernicious effects of 
such books, we felt compelled, not long ago, to condemn severely a 
certain treatise on Practical Geometry ; today we are glad to be able 
to speak more favourably of a more modest, and at the same time 
more genuine work on the same subject. It is evident that Mr, Winter 
could, if required, write a book of a much higher crder, and on this 
account he has been able to accomplish his simpler task creditably. 
Few of his readers will fail to learn from him how to construct the 
more essential geometrical figures ; and the more intelligent amongst 
them, instead of finding their reasoning faculties unexercised, or 
perhaps unrecognized, are continually invited to seek for a reason 
for the construction they are taught to make. ‘This is as it ought 
to be; and we trust that Mr. Winter’s little book will meet with the 
success it deserves. 
XX. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 
ROYAL SOCIETY. 
(Continued from p. 75.] 
May 26, 1859.—Sir Benjamin C. Brodie, Bart., Pres., in the Chair. 
pPue following communication was read :— 
“Remarks on Colour-Blindness.” By Sir John F. W. Her- 
schel, Bart., F.R.S. 
[Extracted from a Report by Sir J. F, W. Herschel on Mr. Pole’s 
