31S HENRY SOTHERAN & CO., 140, STRAND, W.C, AND 37, PICCADILLY, W. 



62.37 BIRCH (Thomas, d d., k.r..s.) The History of the Royal Society of liONOox, in which the 

 most eoiisideiable of tliose Papers, which have hitherto not been publisiietl, are inserted in their 

 proper Order, as a SUPPLEMENT to the Philosophical Transactions, ivith folding plates on 

 copper, and ivoodcuts, 4 vols. 4to. old calf {backs damaged), 12s Qd 1757 



still an indispensable work, which should accompany every set of the Philosophical Transactions. 

 6238 BIRD (Joiin, mathematical instrument maker. Strand) The Method of Constructing Mural 

 Quadrants, exemplified by a Description of a Brass Mural Quadrant in the Royal Observatory, 

 Greenwich, with Z folding copperplates, 4to. (pp. 27), sewn {rare). \2s Qd 1768 



A description, with models, of the celebrated mural quadrant ordered for Greenwich Observatory in 1748, which ren- 

 dered possible the accuracy of Bradley's observations. The above contains a preface by Nevil Maskelyne, f.r.s., and 

 was printed by order of the Commissioners of Longitude. 



Similar quadrants were made by the author for most of the chief Continental observatories, and are ' valuable even now 

 as aftbrding a measure of the probable errors of earlier observations.'— Jfiss J<//;c.s' M. Gierke. 



6289 BIRKS (Thomas Rawson, /jr., Prof Moral Philos., Cantab.) On Matter and Ether, or the 

 Secret Laws of Physical Change, large post 8vo. cl. {scarce), Qs Qd Cambridge, 1862 



a highly interesting molecular theory, founded on three main elements : ' the conclu.sion from the law of gravitation 

 with regard to the nature of the atoms of matter, the constitution of chemical elements, as the first step in composition 

 of these material monads, and the largo part plaj^ed by rotary motion and centrifugal atomic force.' The work was 

 unknown to the author's biographer in D. X, I',. 



6240 BISCHOFF (Christof Heinrich Ernst; Univ. Bonn.) Commentatio de Usu Galvanismi 

 in Arte Medica, speciatini vero in Morhis Nervorum Paralyticis ; with 2 folding copperplates, 

 post 8vo. (pp. 75), sewn, 5s Jenae, 1801 



Containing an interesting history of tlie discovery of the Galvanic current, and a description of the Voltaic Pile. 



6241 BISHOP (George, f.r.s.) Astronomical Observations at the Observatory, South Villa, 

 Inner Circle, Regent's Park, 1839-51, ivith lithographic vicv of the Observatory, 4lo. boards, with 

 inscr. {scarce), 12.9 6c? 1852 



'He published in 18')2 Astionomiad Obtternitionx, including a catalogue of doubl*} stars observed by Dawes and Hind, 

 with valuable historical and descriptive notes by the latter, observations of new planets and comets, and of the temporary 

 star discovered by Hind in Opliiuchus 27 April, 184S, besides a description of the observatory, etc.'— Miss A. M. Gierke. 



6242 BJ5RLING (Philip R.) British Progress in Pumps and Pumping Engines, with 97 illus- 

 trations, inipl. 8vo. boards, 3s Qd (p. Qs nett) 1905 



6243 Pumps, their Construction and Management, 91 illustrations, impl. 8vo. cl., 2s 6d [1902] 



6244 BJC)RN (Hans Outzen) De Indole et Origine Aerolithorum Disquisitio, 12mo. (pp. 95), 

 sewn, 5s Othinice [1816] 



6245 BLACK (Frederick A.) Natural Phenomena : Descriptive and Speculative Essays on some 

 of the Bye-paths of Nature, ivith 27 plates and other illustrations, large cr. 8vo. cl., 4* (p. 6.s nett) 



[1906] 



6246 Terrestrial Magnetism and its Causes, with 23 plates and other illustrations, large cr. 



8vo. cl., As (p. Qs nett) 1905 



6247 BLACK (John) GAS Fitting : a Practical Handbook, tvith 121 illustrations, fcap. 8vo. hf. calf, 

 \s %d 1886 



6248 BLACK (Joseph, M.D., Prof. Chemistry, Univ. Edin.) Experiments upon Magnesia Alba, 

 (^uiCK-LiME, and other Alcaline Surstances ; with Essay on the Cold produced by Evapor- 

 ating Fluids, and of some other Means of producing Cold, by William Cullen, m.d., 

 12mo. sewn, uncut (very rare), £2. 12* Qd Edin., William Creech, 1777 



First Edition in book-koh.m <>f these two important essays. They wci-e originally published in the Edinbt-roh 

 Essays {q. v. pof^t). 



' As a model for philosophical investigation this essay was, by Brougham and Robison, placed second only to the 

 ' Optics ' of Newton. Its importance in chemical history is twofold. By setting an example of the successful use of the 

 balance, it laid the foundation of quantitative analysis ; and by the distinction of qualities conveyed in it between ' fixed ' 

 and common air, it opened the door to pneumatic chemistry. Up to that time the causticity of alkalis after exposure to 

 strong heat had been universally attributed to an acrid principle derived from tire. Black showed that they lost in.stead of 

 gained by calcination ; and that what they lost was a kind of ' air ' previously ' fixed ' in them, and neutralising by its acid 

 qualities' their native causticity. The offerveseence of ' mild ' and non-efferve.scence of 'caustic' alkalies when dissolved 

 in acids were alleged in countenance of the new theory, which, nevertheless, encountered a vigorous though futile 

 opposition in Germany. It was pointetl out in the same remarkable treatise that magnesia, until then generally held 

 to be a variety of lime, formed, with the same acids, Avholly different salts, and was consequently to be regarded as a 

 distinct substance.' — D. N. B. 



The second es.say contains the author's great discovery of ' latent heat ', and his theory of 'specific heat ', which formed 

 the basis of the discoveries of .T. R. v. Mayer, Joule, and Helmholtz. 



6249 [FoRTV-FOUR Lectures on] Chemistry, containing Whatever is Essential to be Known 



in the Art thereof, delivered in the University of Edinburgh, a contemporary Manuscript, 

 neatly written on about 600 leaves, 2 vols. 4to. contemporary hf calf, with Chippendale bookplate of 

 William Herbert {bibliographer, 1718-95), £8. &? [c. 1775] 



An kxtre.\iei.v interesting Manusc^ript, possibly the one from which the printed work, edited by John Robison, 

 V R.S.E., was published in 1803, which latter itself has now become very rare. According to D. N. B. 'his lectures were 

 published by Robison in 1803 from notes after his death, eked out by those of his hearers, in two quarto volumes.' If not 

 actually the original MS., it may safely be said to l)e the onlv MAxrarRirr copy that has ever happened for sale, 

 and should be of great interest for comparison with the printed work. For a shorter MS., .see no. 420, ante. 



' During above 30 years he inculcated the elements of chemistry upon enthusiastic and continually growing audiences. 

 ' It could not be otherwise', Robison wrote in 1803. ' His personal appearance and maimer were those of a gentleman, 

 and peculiarly pleasing. His voice in lecturing was low, but fine ; and his articulation so distinct that he was perfectly well 

 heard by an audience consisting of several hundreds. His discourse was so plain and perspicuous, his illustrations by 

 experiments so apposite, that his sentiments on any subject never could be mistaken, even by the most illiterate ; and his 

 instructions were so clear of all hypothesis or conjecture, that the hearer rested on his conclusions with a confidence 

 scarcely exceeded in matters of his own experience." His lectures had thus a powerful effect in popularising chemistry ; 

 and attendance upon them even came to be a fasldonable amusement '. — D. N. B. 



6250 BLACK (William, practical brewer) Practical Treatise on Brewing, and on Storing of 

 Beer, deduced fiom 40 Years' Experience, first edition, with plate of a ' new improved 

 saccharometer,' 8vo. hf. calf, 5s 1835 



This work claims to be the first to treat brewing from a scientific stamlpoint. 





