TEXT- BOOKS OF SCIENCE, MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL, 



ADAPTED FOR THE USE OF ARTISANS AND OF STUDENTS IN 



PUBLIC AND SCIENCE SCHOOLS. 



In course of publication, in small 8vo. each volume containing 

 about Three Hundred pages, 



A SERIES OF 



ELEMENTARY WORKS ON MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE, 



FORMING A SERIES OF 



TEXT-BOOKS OF SCIENCE, 



ADAPTED FOR THE USE OF ARTISANS AND OF STUDENTS 

 IN PUBLIC AND SCIENCE SCHOOLS. 



THE PUBLICATION of the Series of Books intitled Text-Books of 

 Science was undertaken by Messrs. LONGMANS & Co. in conse- 

 quence of a belief, based upon the Reports of the Public Schools and 

 the Schools Inquiry Commissions, and on the evidence taken before 

 several Parliamentary Committees, that a want existed of a Series of 

 Elementary Works in the various branches of Mechanical and Physical 

 Science suitable for general use in Schools, Colleges, and Science 

 Classes, and for the self-instruction of Working Men. 



The cordial reception given to the various volumes of this Series, as 

 they appeared, by all sections of the Public Press, and the large circula- 

 tion they have met with, have shewn that Messrs. LONGMANS & Co. 

 were fully justified in their belief in the existence of such a want, and 

 have also warranted the supposition that, as regards the subjects 

 hitherto treated, the want has now been supplied. 



The plan of the series was originally limited to the subjects selected 

 for the Examination of Candidates for the Whitworth Scholarships, but 

 it soon became apparent, from the widely spread use of the Series both 

 in England and in America, that it would be expedient to enlarge its 

 original scope. Messrs. LONGMANS & Co. have therefore determined to 

 extend their series, and have accordingly entered into negotiations for 

 the production of works on Astronomy, Agricultural Chemistry, Chemical 

 Philosophy, Botany, Photography, Mineralogy, Horology, and other 

 branches of science. The greatest care will continue to be taken to 

 invite contributions from those men only who are acknowledged to be 

 masters of the subjects entrusted to them, and whose names will be a 

 sufficient guarantee for the excellence of their work. 



The plan for the forthcoming volumes will be similar to that of those 

 already issued : they are intended to serve for the use of practical men, 

 as well as for exact instruction in the subjects of which they treat; and 



