ADVERTISEMENT. j\ 



pleasure and the honour of being- personally acquainted. 

 in terms which their own feelings would lead them to 

 disallow, if even I should appear indecorously "to as- 

 sume the right of arbitrator where praise only can be 

 bestowed," it must be remembered, as my apology, that 

 one of my objects has been, to endeavour to convey a 

 due appreciation of the importance of scientific pur- 

 suits, to those who may as yet be unacquainted with 

 their nature, and that, to assert my own opinion of tin 

 merits of the various researches which I have men- 

 tioned, was inseparable from that design. 



It is requisite to add a few words upon the degree 

 of responsibility which attaches, respectively, to the 

 parties who have concurred in this publication. For 

 the views and statements contained in the following 

 pages, while they are made with the perfect sanction of 

 Messrs. Hill, I alone am responsible. With respect to 

 the Department of Instruction in the Physical Sciences, 

 as forming a portion of the business of the Schools, 

 so far as it has actually been or may yet be conducted 

 by myself, the responsibility, for the accuracy of the 

 views of science imparted to the pupils, and the choice 

 of proper apparatus and illustrations, is also mine ; 

 while, for the provision of apparatus and materials, of 

 every description, as well as for the routine in which 

 the instruction must be given, and for the amount 

 of time allotted to the various duties of the depart- 

 ment, Messrs. Hill are alone responsible. I have un- 

 dertaken, merely, to give instruction, and generally to 

 superintend the arrangement and use of the means of 

 tuition placed at my disposal, in the capacity of 

 Teacher of the Physical Sciences. 



