4 BLANCHARD & LEA'S FVBhlCATI01^S.^{Edticattonal Works.) 

 A NEW TEXT-BOOK ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 



HANDBOOKS 



CF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY AND ASTRONOMY. 



BY DIONYSIUS LARDNER, LL. D., ETC. 



FIRST COURSE, containing 



Mechanics, Hydrostatics, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Sound, and Optics. 



In one large royal 12mo. volume of 750 pages, strongly bound in leather, with 

 over 400 wood-cuts, (Just Issued.) 



THE SECOND COURSE, embracing 



HEAT, MAGNETISM, ELECTRICITY, AND GALVANISM, 



Of about 400 pages, and illustrated with 250 cuts, is now ready. 



THE THIRD COURSE, containing 



METEOROLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; 



Of nearly 800 pages, with 37 plates, and over 200 wood-cuts, is now ready. 



The intention of the author has been to prepare a work which should embrace the 

 principles of Natural Philosophy, in their latest state of, scientific development, divested 

 of the abstruseness which renders them unfitted for the younger student, and at the same 

 lime illustrated by numerous practical applications in every branch of art and science, 

 Pr. Lardner's extensive acquirements in all departments of human knowledge, and his 

 well-known skill in popularizing his subject, have thus enabled him to present a text- 

 book which, though strictly scientific in its groundwork, is yet easily mastered by the 

 student, while calculated to interest the mind, and awaken the attention by showing the 

 importance of the principles discussed, and the manner in which they may be made 

 subservient to the practical purposes of life. To accomplish this still further, the editor 

 has added to each section a series of examples, to be worked out by the learner, thus 

 impressing upon him the practical importance and variety of the results to be obtained 

 from the general laws of nature. The subject is still further simplified by the very large 

 number of illustrative wood-cuts which are scattered through the volume, making plain 

 to the eye what might not readily be grasped by the unassisted mind ; and every care 

 has been taken to render the typographical accuracy of the work what it should be. 



Although the first portion only has been issued, and that but for a few months, yet it 

 has already been adopted by many academies and colleges of the highest standing and 

 character. A few of the numerous recommendations with which the work has been 

 favored are subjoined. 



From Prof. MilUngton, Univ. of Mississippi., April 10, 1S52. 

 I am highly pleased with its contents and arrangement. It contains a greater number 

 of every- day useful praciieal facts and examples than I have ever seen noticed in a 

 similar work, and I do not hesitate to say that as a book for leaching I prefer it to any 

 other of the same size and extent that I am acquainted with. During the thirteen years 

 that I was at William and Mary College I had to teach Natural Philosophy, and I should 

 have been very glad to have such a text-book. 



From Edmund Smith, Baltimore, May 19, IS^, 

 I have a class using it, and think it the best book of the kind with which I am ac- 

 quainted. 



Fro7n Prof. Cleveland, Philadelphia, October 17, 1S51. 

 I feel prepared to say that it is the fullest and most valuable manual upon the subject 

 that has fallen under my notice, and I intend to make it the textbook for the first class 

 in my school. 



From S. Schooler, Hanover Academy, Va.. 

 The "Handbooks" seem tome the best popular treatises on their respective subjects 

 with which I am acquainted. Dr. Lardner certainly popularizes science very well, and 

 a good text-book for schools and colleges was not before in existence. 



From Prof. J. S. Hetiderson, Farmer''s College, O., Feb. 16, 1852. 

 It is an admirable work, and well worthy of public patronage. For clearness and 

 fulness it is uaequalJed by any that I have seen. 



