388 



• KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[Nov. 7, 1884. 



ceeded her original estimates, aud lias been nearly nine 

 years building instead of the four — the time at first esti- 

 mated. It may be supposed by some tliat an approxima- 

 tion to perfection is reached as a result of all this vast 

 expenditure of time and money. This is not the 

 case, however, with the Agavnemnon. She is going 

 upon active service with steering power so defective 

 as to make her a terror to her officers, and dangerous, in 

 some circumstances, to herself. Her movements are of a 

 very erratic and uncontrollable character, and she cannot 

 be kept properly in command by the holm. Steering is 

 one of the most important qualities for a fighting ship to 

 possess, and constitutes one of the prime elements of 

 efficiency. The Agametmion is being sent upon active 

 service with this essential quality disgracefully and dan- 

 gerously deficient. It is said that if the ofiicers find that 

 they can do nothing with her she is to put into Malta for 

 alterations. How can Malta do what it has been impossible 

 to do here in nine years 1 or, if not impossible, why was it 

 neglected here 1 The cause of the defective steering is 

 plainly to be seen in the form of the stem, which is so 

 ingeniously contrived that the water is j)revented in almost 

 every possible manner from properly acting upon the screws 

 and rudder. We commend a study of this stern to naval 

 architects as an example of what should be avoided in 

 designing the after-part of a ship. A model should be 

 obtained for every naval museum. — Engineering. 



Krfaifhjs. 



SOME BOOKS ON OUR TABLE. 



Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for the 

 Year 1882. (Washington : Government Printing Office. 

 1884.) — Anyone who may feel even a lingering doubt as to 

 the ample sufficiency of private enterprise and munificence 

 for the encouragement and development of scientific 

 research, may surely have that doubt dispelled at once by 

 the perusal of the massive volume now lying before us : 

 for its 829 closely printed p'ges contain records of inves- 

 tigations, e.xplorations, and researches of the greatest pos- 

 sible importance ; of the distribution of publications 

 invaluable to tlie student of science ; and of what may fairly 

 be termed the efTfctive general superintendence of the 

 various branches of physical and natural science in the 

 United States by an Eclectic Council, without any appeal 

 to the national exchequer at all. Apart, however, from 

 its instructive character in this respect, the latest Smith- 

 fonian Report may well be read for the vast mass of 

 matter of the highest value contained in its appendix, 

 which is made up of reports on recent progress in every 

 department of science, besides papers specially relating to 

 anthropology. Everybody who wishes to be au con rant 

 with the present condition of scientific knowledge should 

 read this magnificent tribute to the wisdom and generosity 

 of James Smithson. 



Tlie Church of England Sunday Service Book. Con- 

 tinuously arranged for 1885. Morning. (London : Henry 

 Frowde, Oxford University Press. 1884.) — This is neither 

 more nor less than a sequence of the complete services for 

 the fifty-two Sundays of the forthcoming j-ear exactly as 

 they will be read in every church in the kingdom. All 

 church-goers are familiar with the perfectly needless trouble 

 inflicted on them by having to turn backwards and for- 

 wards through the ordinary Prayer-book, and will doubt- 

 less welcome this very much more simple and intelligible 

 arrangement. The very low price at which the work 

 under review is issued, places it within the reach of all. 



Results of Rain and River Ohservations in Nevj South 

 Wales daring 1883. By H. C. Russell, B.A., F.R.A.S 

 (Sydney : Thos. Richards. 1884.) Aev} South Wales : 

 Physical Geography and Climate. New Double Stars. 

 Same author. — In the two first works, whose titles head 

 this notice, Mr. Russell deals exhaustively with the 

 climate of New South Wales, and furnishes information 

 of interest and importance to the settler. His " Cata- 

 logue of 130 New Double Stars" forms a valuable contri- 

 bution towards our, at present not very perfect, knowledge 

 of the Southern Heavens. 



The AmaU;ur Review. No. 1, October, 1884. (Crouch 

 Hill: S. C. Collins. 1884.)— Abundantly justifies its 

 title. 



The Voice, Musically and Medically Considered. By 

 Armaxd Semple, B.A., M.B. Cantab, &c. (London : 

 Bailliere, Tindall, k Cox. 1884.) — Every one who sings, or 

 who proposes to acquire that delightful accomplishment 

 should read Dr. Sample's instructive little pamphlet. Pro- 

 fessing in this, his first, part to deal with musical considera- 

 tions alone, our author yet interpolates something as to the 

 anatomy and physiology of the human vocal organ. He 

 classifies the various voices from bass up to soprano- 

 sopracuto ; discusses " timbre," the various registers, and 

 the common defects of the voice ; and points out in simple 

 language the methods of rectifying them. He has given 

 the musician a very useful little book indeed. 



Reed Farm. By Mr. Robert O'Reilly. (London : 

 Hodder i Stoughton. 1884.) — In these days of exaggerated 

 and but too often prurient sensationalism, it is a positive 

 relief to a healthy mind to take up a book so purely 

 natural in its story and so innocent in its teaching as this. 

 " Reed Farm " is a story about simple working people and 

 their surroundings. As we turn its pages, the scent of the 

 spring blossom, of the .summer hay, and of the autumn 

 fruit seems to fill the air around us ; whUe we realise the 

 individuality of each of the characters throughout the tale. 

 " Chris" might be an elder brother of "Tiny Tim;" indeed, 

 his ioten'iew with Aunt Betsy (unfortunately, too long for 

 extract here) reminds us strongly of the master who 

 created the poor little crippled child of old Scrooge's clerk. 

 One conspicuous merit of this really charming book is, 

 that while a reverent spirit pervades it from end to end, 

 the "goody-goody" element is wholly eliminated from it 

 It would be hard to find a more attractive birthday present 

 for young [leople verging on manhood and womanhood than 

 this. 



Heath's Fern Portfolio. By F. G. Heath. (London : 

 Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, it Rivington. 1884.) — 

 Nothing more beautiful in the shape of botanical illustration 

 than these life-sized and life-like drawings of the fronds of 

 our British ferns has ever been issued. To the fern-col- 

 lector Mr. Heath's work is indispensable, if it be merely 

 on account of the facilities which it affijrds for the identifi- 

 cation of varieties not very commonly met with. In fact, 

 so admirably are the figures drawTi and coloured as to be, 

 for all practical purposes of comparison, equivalent to the 

 plants which they copy with such minute fidelity. Even 

 as an ornament for a drawing-room table the book is not 

 without its value. 



Oar Difficulties and Wants in the Path of the Progress 

 of India. By Syed Mohammad Hossain, M.R.AC, of 

 Lucknow. (London : W. H. Allen &, Co.) — This work of 

 a thoughtful native, written in excellent and readable 

 English, will, we hope, find its way to the India Office. It 

 is impossible to govern any country upon purely theoretical 

 principles, and the practical lessons to be learned from the 

 study of grievances from the point of view of the persons 

 aggrieved are never lost upon the true statesman. Accept- 



