Gorharri's Elements of Chemistry. 335 



pounds. This part is formed into two divisions ; in the 

 first, is given an account of the properties of inorganic mat- 

 ter ; the subject of the second is organic matter; and organic 

 matter has been as usual, divided into vegetable and animal." 



Mineralogy and geology have been very properly omit- 

 ted ; those topics are too extensive to be adequately inclu- 

 ded in a chemical treatise, without swelling its size very in- 

 conveniently. 



For these subjects, Professor Gorham refers his readers 

 to " the excellent work of Professor Cleveland," and we 

 may be allowed to add, that we think this reference alto- 

 gether judicious. 



Professor Gorham's vi^ork (which we have been prevent- 

 ed by the pressure of occupation, from recommending be- 

 fore) is now too well known to make it necessary to give an 

 analysis of its plan and contents. We shall therefore limit 

 ourselves to a few remarks intended principally to recom- 

 mend this performance to the attention of those who may 

 feel interested in chemical science, and who still have never 

 perused this valuable production. The work is embraced in 

 two octavo volumes, containing together, nearly eleven hun- 

 dred large and full pages, neatly and correctly executed, 

 and illustrated by seven good plates. 



The subordinate arrangement of the subjects bears a strong 

 resemblance to other modern chemical works, and we are 

 not disposed to object materially to any important feature 

 in Dr. Gorham's arrangement, except so far as we would 

 raise similar objections against the arrangements of most au- 

 thors of the present period. 



Perhaps there has been of late years, too great a facility 

 given to the admission of new principles, when the evi- 

 dence of their existence has been slender, and in some in- 

 stances, far from being satisfactory. This we imagine, is 

 the case with the principle called fluorine. On any evi- 

 dence which we now possess, it can hardly be entitled to a 

 place in a system — certainly not, if it is to form the basis of 

 important inductions, and of analogical reasoning. The new 

 view of chlorine, for example, can scarcely derive much 

 support from so feeble an ally, and the student, on reading 

 the article fluorine, is disappointed in finding how little it 

 amounts to, after all. At present, we apprehend fluorine is 

 scarcely entitled to a more distinguished place than in a 



