40 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XVII. No. 415 



air which would indicate that he had completely explained the 

 phenomenon upon his theory, whereas there has never been even 

 an attempt made to explain any thing by it. 



The law of gravitation, suggested by the fall of an apple, was 

 withheld by Newton for a number of years, because, on account 

 of incorrect data, it was not confirmed by observation. WitVi the 

 reserve and caution characteristic of a true philosopher, he 

 thought it should be fully tried and tested iirst. But now we 

 have a theory thrust upon us for our assent which has not 

 been developed, and applied in the explanation of a single 

 phenomenon in the local disturbances of the atmosphere; and 

 yet I am censured for thinking that there has been entirely 

 too much haste in the matter, and that it should first have been 

 shown that it will at least account for a few of the observed 

 atmospheric phenomena. Let the advocates of this theory, if it 

 can be so called, take up the matter now, and show that it ac- 

 counts for the phenomena as well as, or better than, the conden- 

 sation theory. Let them give me a chance to look into the 

 workings of this new theory. Wm. Fereel. 



Martinsburg, "W. Va., Jan. 10. 



BOOK-BEVIEWS. . 



Tyeho Brahe : a Picture of Scientific Life aud Work in the 



Sixteenth Ceuturi/. By J. L. E. Deeyek. Edinburgh, Adam 



& Charles Black. 8". (New York, Macmillan, $3.aO.) 



This is a work of much value to students of the history of 



science. Tycho Brahe holds a prominent place in the annals of 



astronomy ; and he was, moreover, a member of the Danish 



nobility and a man of considerable means, with a wide circle of 



acquaintances and many opportunities for travel. Hence his life 



was more dramatic and fuller of incident than the lives of 



ssientific men usually are ; and Professor Dreyer has here related 



it in an interesting way. The book is well written, with great 



care in collecting and sifting the facts, and with an evident desire 

 to be just to all parties. The early life and studies of Tycho are 

 described somewhat briefly ; but a fuU account is given of his 

 early attempts at astronomical observation and of the endowments 

 given him by King Frederick IT. to enable him to pursue his 

 chosen work. The Island of Hveen, which was assigned him to 

 hold during the king's pleasure, became the scene of his most im- 

 portant discoveries ; and the income it afforded, together with 

 certain other revenues placed at his disposal by his royal friend 

 and patron, enabled him to hire assistants and to prosecute his 

 work vigorously for many years. But after the death of Fred- 

 erick the authorities were less favorable to Tycho ; so that at last 

 his endowments were taken from him, and he left Denmark for 

 a new field of labor under the German emperor at Prague. Pro- 

 fessor Dreyer gives a very good description of the Island of Hveen, 

 and the facilities available there for astronomical work, and then 

 endeavors to explain how and why Tycho Brahe lost his position 

 there, — a misfortune due quite as much to Tycho's own faults 

 a,s to the disfavor of the authorities. His new station at Prague 

 is also well described ; and one of the most interesting passages 

 in the book is that relating the meeting of the veteran Tycho with 

 the young Kepler, an event of such significance in the develop- 

 ment of science. Indeed, this meeting was the most important 

 result of Tycho's residence at Prague, which was soon terminated 

 by his death in his fifty-fifth year. 



Of Tycho Brahe's scientific achievements, Professor Dreyer 

 gives a full and detailed account. He was an observer rather 

 than a thinker, and his biographer thinks that his observations 

 could hardly have been surpassed in accuracy but for the inven- 

 tion of the telescope. The instruments he employed, many of 

 which were devised by him, are described with some minuteness, 

 and the importance of his observations as a basis tor the theories 

 of Kepler and Newton is clearly shown. Tycho's most important 

 labors, in Professor Dreyer's opinion, were those relating to the 



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