266 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[March 27, 1885. 



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SOME BOOKS ON OUR TABLE. 



Astounding Modem Scripture Discovery. By Jonx 

 Wood. (Liverpool : Adam Holden.) — When we say that 

 the author of this trash has previously published a work 

 to show that the sun moves round the earth, and not the 

 earth round the sun ! and that hence '• scieutitic opinion is 

 a scientific fiction and nonentity," the reader will ktiow 

 pretty well what to expect. Mr. Wood's " Discovery " is 

 that no rain fell before the Noachian Deluge. Is there no 

 geological museum in Liverpool, or quarry near it, in which 

 be can see fossil rain-prints in slabs of sandstone % 



The Metaphysical Aspect of Natural History. By 

 Stephen Monckton, M.D., F.R.C.P. (London: H. K. 

 Lewis, 1885,)— With the purely theological part of Dr. 

 Monckton's work we have no concern here. Drowning 

 men catch at straws, and the possibility of the truth of 

 apparitions, telepathy, and mesmerism is pressed by him 

 into his argument. The major part of his little volume is 

 Paley-and- water. 



The Sun: a Familiar Description of his Phenorihnw. 

 lly the Rev. T. W. Webb, M.A., F.RAS. (London: 

 Longmans, Green, k Co. 188-5) — In connection with 

 astronomical literature there aie few modern writers to 

 whom Dr. .Johnson's words concerning Goldsmith can be 

 more appropriately applied than to Prebendary Webb ; 

 for, with regard to descriptions of the bodies which spangle 

 the celestial vault, it may be in all sober truth said of him 

 that " Nullum quod tetigit non ornavit." In his usual 

 ■clear and pleasant style he discourses in the little book 

 Ijefore us of the mighty ruler of our solar system, and 

 5)riefly and popularly explains how its siz*, distance, and 

 physical constitution have been de^ermintd If we have 

 met some of the engravings before, this scarcely detracts 

 from their value as illustrations of the text. Mr. Webb's 

 Jatest work should find a place upon the shelves of every 

 young astronomer. 



Studies ill Microscopical Science. March, 188-5. (London: 

 iiailliere, Tindall, i Cox). — Mr. Cole's " Studies " continue 

 to justify the high opinion we have expressed of them on 

 former occasions in these columns. Letterpress and illus- 

 trations are alike deserving of praise. Of the latter we 

 Kiay single out those of Vaucheria racemosa under a power of 

 -SOO diameters, and the foot of Epeira diadema x "4 

 ((notably the latter), as life-like reproductions of the objects 

 represented. 



The EUctricio.n's Directory. With Handbook for 1885. 

 <London: George Tucker, Electrician Otiice. 1885). — 

 This is the third year that this excellent directory has 

 been issued, and, as might be expected, each year shows an 

 i-uprovement. A number of new tables have been given, 

 •interesting to those who are engaged in electrical pursuits. 

 The list of local authorities and chief officers is more com- 

 •plete, and the list of alphabetical and classified names has 

 t;een very largely increased. A totally new feature is to 

 be found in the biographical section, in which a more or 

 less brief biography is given of those whose names are best 

 •known in electrical pursuits. Several of these biographical 

 hketches are accompanifd by poitraits, which, on the whole, 

 are marvellously well done. The likeness is very striking, 

 .■iad we look for a considerable augmentation of this very 

 -attractive feature next year. 



Waterside Sketches (cheap edition). By Redspinner 

 •; W. Senioe). (London: S,tmp3on Low, Marston, Searle, »fe 

 iUivington.) — This delightful series of essays, issued now in 

 a form and of a size that may be easily carried in the 

 -pocket, will be devourel by the enthusiastic angler, and 



will, in all human probability, convert every reader who 

 miy begin it in a condition of piscatorial nescience into a 

 keen fisherman. A book to be recommended to all who 

 love what is simple, pure, innocent, and natural. 



Acetic Acid and Vineijar, Ammonia, and Alum. 

 (London : J. and A. Churchill. 1S85.) — This is one of a 

 series of technological handbooks published by the Messrs. 

 Churchill, and embodying an idea at once novel and 

 excellent The series is, in fact, intended "to meet the 

 wants of those who, on account of the high price of an 

 encyclopaedia, are unwilling to purchase when they wish to 

 consult but a small portion of it, and of others who seek 

 for fuller information than can be found in works of such 

 scope." L'nquestionably, no cyclopredia with which we 

 are familiar goes — or could go — into such minute and 

 exhaustive detail on the subjects it comprises as does the 

 work before us in connection with the four substances to 

 which it is devoted. The student of chemistry, alike with 

 tlie practical manufacturer, will find all that he needs to 

 know about them between the two covers of the volume 

 before us, so painstakingly and conscientiously edited by 

 Mr. Gardner. 



Go West. By Percy Taylor. (London : Wyman i 

 Sons. 1885.) — Mr. Taylor's little book should be carefully 

 read through from beginning to end by every intending 

 emigrant who proposes to make Canada or the United 

 States the land of his adoption. The author's own, ob- 

 viously extensive, personal experience enables him to speak 

 authoritatively on the subject on which he treats, and to 

 give just the kicd and amount of advice needed by all 

 proceeding to a strange country. He gives details of the 

 leading occupations likely to prove remunerative to the 

 settler, and furnishes minute directions for his conduct on 

 landing — where to go, what to buy, how to travel, and 

 what to pay. Even the price of cigars is included among 

 the items of information afforded. By wholly eschewing 

 fine writing, and confining himself rigidly to his succession 

 of necessary details, our author has contrived to pack a 

 very large amount of instruction into a very small compass. 

 The March of the Strikers. By John A. Bevan, M.D. 

 (London : W. Swan Sonnenschein i Co. 1885.). — If the 

 Honourable Tarantula Degrumph is, in any sense whatever, 

 drawn from life, Messrs. Hyndman i Co. need not 

 denounce a monarchical country as tlie necessary home of 

 " the bloated capitalist." The description of the hideous 

 tyranny, and worse, which gave rise to " The March of the 

 Strikers," is laid on with a four-pound brush in this curious 

 novel. Were the old Victoria Theatre not now turned into 

 a coffee and lecture hall, a dramatised version of Dr. 

 Bevan's highly-spiced story would doubtless find immense 

 favour with its quondam frequenters. Grit and Mother 

 Weary, Degrumph himself, Blutgelt, Minnie and Ruth 

 are essentially tran>pontine ; while the street-fight between 

 the strikers and the American troops and police would 

 bring the house down. 



We have also on our table The Journal of the Society of 

 Art'>, Ciel el Terre, The Lady, Tlie Tricyclist, The American 

 Druggist, and a magazine in Arabic, of which we are 

 wholly unable to decipher either the title, place of publica- 

 tion, or contents. 



The Post Office Telegraphs. — The gross amounts received and 

 expended in respect of the telegraphic service from the date of the 

 transfer of the telegraphs to the State to March 31, 18S4, are 

 stated to be as follow : — The gross amount received for telegrams 

 in that period was £18,225,778, and the amount expended in the 

 working of the department was £16,662,347, and £2,305,082 re- 

 mained as a balance to meet interest on stock created on account 

 of the telegraph service and the redemption of debt. 



