318 HEX11Y SOTHERAN & CO., 140, STRAND, W.C., AND 37, PICCADILLY, W. 



6237 BIRCH (Thomas, D D., K.R.S.) The HISTORY of the ROYAL SOCIETY of LONDON, in which the 

 most considerable of those Papers, which have hitherto not been published, are inserted in their 

 proper Order, as a SUPPLEMENT to the PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, with folding plates on 

 copper, and woodcuts, 4 vols. 4to. old calf (backs damaged], 12s Qd 1757 



Still an indispensable work, which should accompany every set of the Philosophical Trmiscctioits. 



6238 BIRD (John, mathematical instrument maker, Strand) The METHOD of CONSTRUCTING MURAL 

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

 Greenwich, ivith 3 folding copperplates, 4to. (pp. 27), sewn (rare). 12* Qd 1768 



A description, with models, of the celebrated mural quadrant ordered for Greenwich Observatory in 174S, which ren- 

 dered possible the accuracy of Brad ley's observations. The above contains a preface by NF.YIL .MASKIU.VNK, K.K.S., and 

 was printed by order uf the Commissioners of Longitude. 



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

 as affording a measure of the probable errors of earlier observations.' Miss Afjnes M. Clt'i'ke. 



6239 BIRKS (Thomas Rawson, pr., Prof. Moral Philos., Cantab.) On MATTER and ETHER, or the 

 Secret Laws of Physical Change, large post 8vo. cl. (scarce], 6s Gd Cambridge, 1862 



A highly interesting molecular theory, founded on three main elements : ' the conclusion 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 large part played by rotary motion and centrifugal atomic fore".' The work was 

 unknown to the author's biographer in D. X. 7>. 



6240 BISCHOFF (Christof Heinrich Ernst; Univ. Bonn.) COMMENTATIO de Usu GALVANISMI 

 in ARTE MEDICA, speciatim vero in Morbis Nervormn Paralyticis ; with 2 folding copperplates, 

 post 8vo. (pp. 75), sewn, 5s Jenac, 1S01 



Containing an interesting history of the 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, with lithographic view of the Observatory, 4to. boards, with 

 imcr. (scarce), 12* 6d 1852 



'He published in 1S">2 Astronomical 0!ixerrtions, including a catalogue of double stars observed by Dawes and Him), 

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

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



6242 BJORLING (Philip R.) BRITISH PROGRESS in PUMPS and PUMPING ENGINES, with 97 illus- 

 trations, impl. 8vo. boards, 3s Qd (p. 6* nett) 1905 



6243 PUMPS, their CONSTRUCTION and MANAGEMENT, 91 illustrations, impl. 8vo. cl., 2s 6d [1902] 



6244 BJC)RN (Hans Outzen) De INDOLE et ORIGINS AEROLITHORUM Disquisitio, 12mo. (pp. 95), 

 sewn, 5s Othiniaj [1816] 



6245 BLACK (Frederick A.) NATURAL PHENOMENA : Descriptive and Speculative Essays on some 

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



[1906J 



6246 TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM and its CAUSES, with 23 plates and other illustrations, large cr. 



8vo. cl., 4s (p. 6s nett) 1905 



6247 BLACK (John) GAS FITTING : a Practical Handbook, with 121 illustrations, fcap. 8vo* hf. calf, 

 Is Qd 1886 



6248 BLACK (Joseph, M.D., Prof. Chemistry, Univ. Edin.) EXPERIMENTS upon MAGNESIA ALBA, 

 QUICK-LIMB, and other ALCALINE SUBSTANCES ; 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. 12s Qd Edin., William Creech, 1777 



FIRST EDITION ix BOOK-FORM of these two important essays. They were originally published in the EDIXUI RGH 

 ESSAYS (q. v. post). 



' As a model for philosophical investigation this essay was, by Brougham and Robi.son, 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 ' lixed ' 

 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 (ire. Black showed that they lost instead 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 effervescence of ' mild ' and non-effervescence 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 pointed out in the same remarkable treatise that magnesia, until then generally held 

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

 distinct substance.' D. N. 1L 



The second essay 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 Helmholtx. 



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. 8s [c. 1775] 



Ax EXTREMELY iXTERKSTixo MANUSCRIPT, possibly the one from which the printed work, edited by John Robison, 

 v K.S.K., was published in 1S03, which latter itself has now become very rare. According to D. N. E. '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 be the ONLY MAxrgrRirr COPY THAI HAS RVKR HAPPENED FOR SALE, 

 and should be of great interest for comparison with the printed work. For a shorter M.S., see no. 4:>G, niit>-. 



' 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 manner 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 illustration-! by 

 experiments so apposite, that his sentiments on any subject never could be mistaken, even by tin 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 fashionable amusement '. D. N. 1'.. 



6250 BLACK (William, practical brewer) PRACTICAL TREATISE on BREWING, and on STORING of 

 BEER, deduced from 40 Years' Experience, first edition, with plate of a 'new improved 

 sacchrtromet<>r,'%vo.hf.calf,5s 183/5 



This work claims to be tli- first to treat brewing from a scientific standpoint. 



