British Works. 179 



changes of the weather, or the fluctuations of the atmosphere. By W. H. 

 B. Webster, Surgeon, R. N., and of the " Chanticleer." 10 in. by 13 in. 

 London, Longman and Co. Is. 6d. 



A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines : containing a clear Exposition 

 of their Principles and Practice. By Andrew Ure, M. D., &c. 8vo. 

 Parts V. VI. and VII., p. 489 to p. 872. ; numerous woodcuts. London, 

 1839. 



Our last notice of this excellent work is in p. 34. ,- and, as it proceeds, it 

 increases in interest. Among the articles which concern the gardener, or land- 

 steward, in the three numbers before us, we may enumerate Flax, Flour of 

 Wheat; Flowers, artificial ; Freezing, a most interesting article; Fuel, still more 

 so; Fumigation, Gall-nuts, Gas, Glass, Green Paints, Gum, Raisins, Gypsum } 

 Heat-regulator, an extremely interesting article, though short; Hop, Ice-house; 

 Incubation, artificial, in which may be seen the origin of the modern system of 

 heating by hot water ; Ink, of different colours ; Iron, Iceland Moss, Kelp ; 

 Kirschwasser (a receipt for making which was given in one of our early 

 volumes), Lead, Limestone ; Ledum palustre, employed in Russia to tan the 

 skins of goats, calves, and sheep, into a reddish leather, of an agreeable smell ; 

 and also in the preparation of the oil of birch, for making what is commonly 

 calledRussian leather; Lime-kiln, in which are given plans and sections of a per- 

 petual kiln ; Lycopodium clavatum, the seeds of which are employed on account 

 of their great combustibility, in theatres, to imitate the sudden flash of lightning, 

 by throwing a quantity of them from a powder puff, or bellows, across the 

 flame of a candle ; Maceration, Magnesian Limestone, Malic Acid ; Malt-kiln, 

 in which article we were surprised not to find Reid's improvements noticed 

 (see Cot. Arch., p. 595. and figs. 1 148. to 1 156.) ; Marble, Marl, Mastic, Mercury, 

 Metals ; Mines, an extremely interesting article, illustrated with a multiplicity 

 of excellent engravings ; and Muriatic Acid. 



Hints to Mechanics, on Self-Education and Mutual Instruction. By Timothy 



Claxton. Smah\8vo, pp. 226. London, 1839. 4*. 



The first chapter of this work deserves to be read by every gardener. Its 

 main object is to show that a young man who really wishes to advance him- 

 self in the world cannot do it better than by educating himself ; and that this 

 may be accomplished by a mechanic or labourer, even if he should work at 

 his business from six in the morning till seven at night throughout the year. 

 Mr. Claxton was a blacksmith, and worked during his apprenticeship in a 

 small country village the number of hours mentioned; and yet he contrived to 

 educate himself in various branches of knowledge, which enabled him, as soon 

 as he had completed his apprenticeship, to get a good situation as journeyman 

 in London, and ultimately raised him from being a working blacksmith to a 

 directing engineer. His maxims appear to be, to take a hint for self-improve- 

 ment from every thing, and not to lose a moment of time. 



The Year-Boole of Facts in Science and Art ; exhibiting the most important Dis- 

 coveries and Improvements of the past Year, in Mechanics, Natural Philosophy, 

 Electricity, Chemistry, Zoology and Botany, Geology and Mineralogy, Astro- 

 nomy, Meteorology, and Geograj)hy. Illustrated with Engravings. Bj' the 

 Editor of " The Arcana of Science." Small 8vo, pp. 288. London, 1839. 

 The Arcana of Science, an annual publication of the same nature as that 

 before us, has repeatedly been noticed and highly commended in our pages. 

 The present work appears to be a substitute for the Arcana of Science, 

 and to be in every respect equally deserving of public patronage ; the author 

 thinks more so, and he is, we believe, right. But he shall speak for himself. 

 " The object of the present work is, to present a faithful record of such of 

 the results of scientific enquiry, during the past twelve months, as bear upon the 

 arts of life and society, and tend to the advancement of useful knowledge. 

 The Year-Book of Facts is, therefore, the golden fruit of the great tree of 



