160 Analysis of Scientific Books and Memoirs. 



Mr. Blackwall's Observations on the Cuckoo, will be read with much 

 interest by naturalists. He confirms, in general, the interesting results ob- 

 tained by the late Dr. Jenner, and we regret much that we cannot find 

 room for an abstract of his ingenious observations. 



The other scientific papers in this half volume, are On the Transverse 

 Strain and Strength of Materials ; by Mr. Eaton Hodgkinson. This 

 is a paper of great interest and value, and we may probably return to it at 

 some future opportunity. 



On the Saline Impregnations of the Rain which fell during the late 

 Storm, December 6th, 1822; with an appendix to it; by John Dalton, 

 F. R. S. An abstract of this paper is given in our Scientific Notices. 



On the Nature and Properties of Indigo ; by John Dalton, F.R.S. 

 The principal part of which we have already given in our History of 

 Mechanical Inventions and Processes in the Useful Arts, p. 149. 



Experiments on the Analysis of some of the Aeriform Compounds of Ni- 

 trogen ; by William Henry, M. D. F.R.S. See our last Number, 

 p. 377. for an extract from this ingenious paper. 



III. Account of the Bell Rock Light House ; including the Details of the 

 Erection and peculiar Structure of that Edifice. I vol. 4to. pp. 534. 

 By Robert Stevenson, Esq. F. R. S. E. Civil Engineer. 



" Far in the bosom of the deep, 



O'er these wild shelves my watch I keep, 



A ruddy gem of changeful light. 



Bound on the dusky brow of night, 



The seaman bids my lustre hail, 



And scorns to strike his timorous sail." 



Sir Walter Scott. 



If England has justly boasted of the Eddystone Lighthouse as one of 

 the greatest public works of the age in which it was erected, and if the 

 skill and intrepidity with which it was planned and executed, have re- 

 flected immortal honour on the name of Smeaton, Scotland may, with 

 equal justice, be proud of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, and may claim an 

 equal share of reputation to Mr. Stevenson, for the skill, and intrepidity, 

 and patience with which he has planted that magnificent beacon upon our 

 stormy coast. The erection of a bridge, the formation of sl canal, or, in- 

 deed, any of the common works of the civil engineer, require only those 

 ordinary resources both of mind and machinery which long experience 

 has sanctioned; but in the erection of a lighthouse, upon a submerged 

 rock in the bosom of a stormy sea, the engineer is thrown upon new re- 

 sources, of which neither theory nor experience furnishes liim with any 

 knowledge. His building is subjected to strains different from those of 

 gravity ; his materials are exposed to disintegrations worse than the cor- 

 rosions of time or weather ; and every part of his operations, however tri- 

 vial they may be on dry land, requires precautions and combinations which 

 nothing but patience, and temper, and sagacity can enable him to anti- 



