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Biographical Sketch of Prof. Olmsted. 113 
from the treatise of Bridge, and though excluding the higher 
mathematics, which were not then taught in our colleges, is yet 
characterized by so many excellencies of form and arrangement, 
and on the whole is so well adapted to the wants of the great 
majority of students, that it has from the first been received 
Prof. Newton of Yale College, and which, it is understood, these 
gentlemen are now carrying forward, will be likely to render it as 
acceptable hereafter as it proved to be when originally published. 
n abridgment of this work, called the “School Philosophy,” 
was published in 1832, for the use of high schools and acade- 
mies, and has already, it is said, passed through more than a 
hundred editions. A still smaller work, entitled ‘“‘ Rudiments of 
Natural Philosophy and Astronomy,” was issued in 1842, and 
is adapted to pupils in elementary schools. This little work has 
gone through some fifty editions, and on account of its clearness: 
and comprehensiveness, has been adopted as the text-book on 
these subjects for use in institutions for the blind, an edition for 
this purpose having been printed in raised letters, in large quarto 
form, as early as 1845. 
Prof. Olmsted’s text-book of Astronomy for colleges was pub- 
lished in 1839 in one volume octavo. It is characterized, in the 
main, by the same qualities as his other books, and has found 
general favor, it is believed, among the teachers of that science, 
An abridgment for schools was published soon after the original 
work. Still another book on the same science, called “ Letters 
on Astronomy,” Peps to have been written to a lady, was 
prepared by Prof. Olmsted as a reading book at the request of 
the Massachusetts Board of Education, and published in 1842. 
sides instructing in astronomy by text-book, Prof. Olmsted 
delivered annually to the two upper classes in college three 
courses of lectures, one on natural philosophy and optics, one 
on astronomy, and another on meteorology. These he prepared 
with much labor, and by frequent revision, endeavored to adapt 
to the rapid progress of scientific discovery. They were charac- 
terized by fullness, clearness and method, and sometimes by elo- 
quence. The course on meteorology was, perhaps, on the whole, 
_ the most attractive and useful. 
In the subjects of storms, auroras, and shooting-stars, —— 
ae eh 
_ Special interest. A new theory of Hail-storms was pub 
SECOND SERIES, Vor. XXVIII, No. 82.—JULY, 1859. 
15 
