68 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XVII. No. 417 



the Eaglish science-teaching by the Science and Art Department 

 is to a considerable extent that of an examining board, so that 

 the booli before us appears to be written witli the purpose of sup- 

 plying a most condensed array of facts. As each substance is 

 taken up, we are told of its occurrence, mode of preparation, 

 properties, industrial applications, and composition. The author 

 is evidently thoroughly practical by nature, and does not devote 

 much space to the interesting theoretical discussions in chemistry, 

 which would seem to give the study its chief disciplinary value, 

 before he proceeds to the detailing of the facts. But let all teach- 

 ers interested examine the book, that they may at least know the 

 methods pursued by some of their co-workers abroad. 



AMONG THE PUBLISHERS. 



The contents of the Magazine of American History for Feb- 

 ruary cover a wide field of subjects. The features of the geolo- 

 gist and geographer. Sir Roderick Impey JIurchison, appear in 

 the frontispiece, accompanied by a sketch of his career in scien- 

 tific discovery. The contribution of Hon. John Jay, LL.D., 

 entitled "The Demand for Education in American History," is 

 the longest and most important article of the number. Mr. Jay 

 says, " Our great authorities on history- teaching are agreed that 

 rightly to understand, appreciate, and defend American institu- 

 tions, the true plan is to know their origin and their history." 

 The third paper, by Rev. D. F. Larason, presents an account of 

 the emigration from New England to New Brunswick in 1763. 

 The fourth paper is an illustrated account of the antiquity of car- 

 riages, by Emanuel Spencer. The article which follows is also 

 illustrated, being the story of Sir Walter Raleigh's settlements on 

 Roanoke Island, called by its author, Dr. Stephen B. Weeks, 

 "An Historical Survival." Rev. R. T. Cross writes of early ex- 

 plorations in Louisiana; H. E. Green contributes a description of 

 "The Pickering Manust;ripts " in Boston; and "The French 



Army in the Revolution," translated from the French by Miss 

 Georgine Holmes, is concluded from the January number. 



— Mr. Greenough White has issued through the press of Gino 

 & Co. a pamphlet on " The Philosophy of American Literature," 

 in which he endeavors to show that our literature is a native 

 growth, and not a mere offshoot of that of England. In our 

 opinion, the attempt is a failure. Mr. White gives a brief but 

 excellent sketch of American literature, exhibiting its chief char- 

 acteristics in the various periods, as he conceives them, very 

 clearly ; but he fails entu-ely to discover any real originality, or 

 any thing distinctively American in thought or sentiment. Stu- 

 dents of the subject will doubtless like to read Mr. White's work ; 

 but we think it will make few converts to the author's view. 

 For our part, we can find little in our native !iteratui-e but a reflex 

 of European ideas; and we doubt if there is now extant a single 

 work by an American writer that will be read except for histori- 

 cal purposes in the twentieth century. 



— Readers of " Robert Elsmere " will be glad to hear that the 

 address dehvered by Mrs. Humphry Ward at the opening of Uni- 

 versity Hall has been reprinted in pamphlet form by Macmillan & 

 Co. The special rehgious aims of University Hall are set forth 

 in the pamphlet, in which mention is also made of the beginning 

 of class- teaching under the guidance of Dr. Martineau. The same 

 firm announce for early publication " The Life of the Right Hon. 

 Arthur McMurrough Kavanagh," who was remarkable, having 

 been born without arms or legs, notwithstanding which he sat in 

 Parliament for many years, and yachted, hunted, and shot, carry- 

 ing on the ordinary pursuits of a country gentleman and landlord. 



— In an article entitled " An American Kew," in Lippincott's 

 Magazine for February, 1891, Julian Hawthorne advocates the 

 establishment in America of botanical gardens akin to the Kew 

 Gardens in England. " When American naturalists," says Mr. 

 Hawthorne, " have been furnished with a place where they can 



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