Bibliography. 381 



3. Life and Writings of Ebenezer Porter Mason ; interspersed with 

 hints to parents and instructors on the training and education of a 

 child of genius : by Denison Olmsted, Professor of Natural Philos- 

 ophy and Astronomy in Yale College. New York : Dayton & New- 

 man, 199 Broadway, pp. 252. 



A child of genius, young Mason ti'uly was. We knew him well, and 

 can fully unite with the respected author of this interesting biography, 

 in the opinion that science has rarely lost two youthful cultivators of 

 such eminent hope and promise, as Mason and Fisher.* 



In all branches of science Mason excelled, but astronomy was his 

 favorite department, and in this he made many new and original obser- 

 vations, such as would do honor to a veteran.t He was cut off at 21 

 years of age, when he had already given the fairest indications of fu- 

 ture fame and usefulness. 



It is impossible to peruse without deep emotion, the touching tale of 

 his struggles with poverty, and with infirmities, induced or greatly aug- 

 mented by his watchings with the stars — by his exposure to the chills 

 of midnight — by his loss of sleep, and by the exertions he made to pro- 

 vide, through extra labors, for his expenses. Still, he went forward 

 with courage and hope, and labored with cheerful alacrity, till death 

 not only knocked at his door, but abruptly forced an entrance, and bore 

 his victim away. 



The beautiful taste in which his letters are written — the rich vein of 

 poetry which ran through the solid mass of his philosophy — his child- 

 like pui'ity and simplicity, and his lovely social affections, commend him 

 not less to our admiration and affection than to our esteem and respect ; 

 and we realize that when young Mason died, a rich gem dropped out 

 from the coronet of science. 



Professor Olmsted has well performed his almost parental labor, and 

 this most interesting volume should be perused by the aged and the 

 young — by the grave and the gay ; for all may derive delight and in- 

 struction from the memoir of Mason. He fell — 



" Purpureus veluti cum flos, succisus aratro, 

 Languescit moriens ; — lassove papavera collo 

 Demissere caput, pi u via quum forte gravantur." 



4. Davis'' Manual of Magnetism ; including also Electro- Magnet- 

 ism, Magneto- Electricity, and Thermo- Electricity, loith a description 

 of the Electrotype Process : for the use of students and literary insti- 

 tutions, with 100 original illustrations. Boston, No. 11 Cornhill ; pub- 

 lished by the author. 



* He was lost in the packet Albion on the Irish coast, in 1821. 

 t Vide his paper on Nebulas, in the Transactions of the American Philosophical 

 Society, Vol. 7, N. S., p. 165-213, with 4 plates. 



