REVIEW OF THE PROGRESS 



OF 



MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE 



AND PARTICULARLY BETWEEN THE YEARS 1775 AND 1850; 



BEING ONE OF THE DISSERTATIONS PREFIXED TO THE EIGHTH EDITION OF THE 



ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA. 



BY 



JAMES D. FORBES, D.C.L., F.R.S., 



H 



SEC. R.S. ED., F.G.S., &c. 



CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE OF FRANCE, ASSOCIATE OR HONORARY MEMBER 



OF THE BAVARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, OF THE ACADEMY OF PALERMO, OF THE DUTCH SOCIETY OF SCIENCES (HAARLEM), OF 

 THE HELVETIC SOCIETY, OF THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMY OF " NUOVI LINCEl" AT ROME, AND OF THE 



NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES OF HEIDLEBERG, GENEVA, AND VAUD ; 



HONORARY MEMBER OF THE ROYAL MEDICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH, OF THE CAMBRIDGE, YORKSHIRE, ST ANDREWS, 

 AND ISLE OF WIGHT PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETIES, AND OF THE PLYMOUTH AND BRISTOL INSTITUTIONS, AND 



PROFESSOR OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE UNIVERSITY 

 OF EDINBURGH. 



EDINBURGH: 



ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK. 



MDCCCLVIII. 



