400 Miscellanies. 



cessfully a saturated solution of Chloride of Calcium in Alcohol, which 

 he considers as preferable because the acid is liable to produce a resin 

 as well as to remove it from the oil, 



67. British Annual and Epitome of the progress of Science for 

 1839. Edited by R. D. Thomson, M. D. London, 1838— It might 

 seem inappropriate to notice an Annual so long after the time of its 

 appearance, were it not that this little work, hke its prototype the 

 Annuairc, contains information of lasting and general interest on 

 many subjects, Avhile its minute and accurate tables give it the char- 

 acter of a hand book for all classes of readers. We have been much 



m 



struck in the perusal of this and the previous volumes with the valu- 

 able condensation they contain of different scientific subjects. Of 

 this character are Dr, Robert E. Grant's general view of the charac- 

 ters and the distribution of extinct animals in the present volume. 

 On the principles of classification as applied to the primary divisions 

 of the animal kingdom by the same author ; and a sketch of the his- . 

 tory and present state of Geology, by Thomas Thomson, M. D., 

 F. R. S. But it may appear invidious to attempt a distinction among 

 so many articles where all are of great value, and we accordingly 

 give a classified condensation of the table of contents of the present 

 volume, ■ 



An Astronomical Calendar; Table of the Chronology of Science ; 

 Weights and Measures and Coins of many countries ; Table of Spe- 

 cific Gravities and Atomic Weights ; Universities, Academies of Sci- 

 ence, Professional Schools, &:c. in Britain, Ireland, France, Holland, 

 Russia, &c- ; Population and Power of Europe, Asia, Australia, and 

 the Polar regions; Statistics of the World; British Population; 

 Crimes and Punishments; Steam Navigation; Learned Societies; 

 Dr. Grant's view already named ; Hints on National Education ; New 

 Chemical Substances. 



We have heard wath much regret from the learned editor (to whose 

 polite attention we owe the receipt of the three volumes of the An- 

 nual now published) that this interesting work will probably be dis- 

 continued after the present year, owing partly to want of encourage- 

 ment and partly to the pressure of numerous more important duties. 

 We cannot but hope however that so valuable a work will be con- 

 tinued. 



w 



68. Longitude of New York, — At the very conclusion of our num- 

 ber we have received from Messrs. E. & G- W, Blunt, a copy of a 

 paper read by Mr. E. J. Dent, F. R. A. S. before the British A.-^socia- 

 lion at Birmingham, Aug. 26, 1839, giving the details of ^ recent suc- 

 cessful experiment to determine hy means of Chronometers ^ the dif- 



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