Miscellanies. 391 



Crystallography. The means of calculation employed by that distin- 

 guished author, are those furnished by Geometrical Analysis, of which 

 he says, " it is and must be the simplest and most natural of all meth- 

 ods." The practical value of these calculations, appears from the fol- 

 lowing remarks of the author : — " the determination of a single angle 

 in a dimetric or tetraxonal solid, is, in some instances, sufficient for 

 ascertaining every angle, interfacial or plane, that the solid contains, • 

 and often in the monometric solids not even this datum is required." 



Appendix B, is occupied with a discussion of the chemical classi- 

 fication of minerals, and a tabular view of the same. 



The work is concluded by a Mineralogical Bibliography, of seven- 

 teen pages, containing 1 st, a catalogue of all the ancient works on 

 this science, with a selection of the most important ones of modern 

 times, and 2d, a catalogue of all American publications on mineral- 

 ogy, both original and reprinted, and likewise a list of all the articles 

 on this topic, scattered through the American periodicals. Cata- 

 logues of this nature have always been held valuable. They fur- 

 nish information which few have the opportunities of collecting, and 

 are of the utmost importance to those who make original investiga- 

 tions. We here see how little this nation has, until recently, done 

 for the advancement of a science, a knowledge of which is so im- 

 portant to the full development of the resources of the country. 

 This cause of reproach is now however fast disappearing. The in- 

 stitution of geological and mineralogical surveys in most of the states, 

 does great honor to our legislators, and must contribute much to 

 extend the boundaries of science. Many minerals now unknown, 

 are doubtless reserved to reward the search of future explorers. 

 Within a short space of time and a limited extent of territory, three 

 new species (viz. Microlite, Edwardsite, and Eremite) have been 

 added to the domain of Mineralogy, by one of the most zealous and 

 accomplished cultivators of this science among us. We trust that 

 many in other parts of the land will imitate his zeal and be alike suc- 

 cessful. 



The mechanical execution of the book merits commendation. 

 The figures both on wood and copper are made with much neatness 

 and accuracy, and the printers have evidently spared no pains in 

 contributing their part towards the execution of a text book, superior 

 in typographical excellence to any of its American predecessors. 



The industry, research and scientific attainments evinced in the 

 execution of this work, afford satisfactory evidence of the ability of 



