PREFACE. 



X HE termination of the Second Volume of the 

 Annals of Philosophy will enable our readers still 

 more completely to understand the plan and the 

 object of the work, and in what particulars it differs 

 from other scientific journals. 



It will be admitted, we conceive, without hesita- 

 tion, that the second volume is considerably more 

 valuable than the first ; a sufficient proof that the 

 attention of the Editor has not relaxed, and that 

 more copious sources of information have been con- 

 tinually opening upon him. 



The great increase of original communications 

 from men of science, sufficiently conspicuous in this 

 volume, has rendered it necessary to deviate occa- 

 sionally from the original plan, as far as regards the 

 regular insertion of the analysis of a scientific book 

 in each number. Such deviations cannot always be 

 avoided ; and when we have to balance between 

 deferring an original paper and the review of a book, 

 we conceive it but reasonable that the latter should 

 yield to the former. 



We may now confidently anticipate an unrestrained 

 communication between Great Britain and all the 

 other countries in Europe where science is cultivated. 

 The Editor fully expects to derive much valuable 

 information from the labours of the philosophers in 

 Germany and the North of Europe: and proper 

 means will be taken, as soon as the channels of com- 

 munication are open, to secure a regular correspond- 

 ence in these countries. 



