Notices respecting New Books. 537 



" Ou the Eeconcentration of the Mechanical Energy of the Uni- 

 verse "(Nov. 1852); xxi. " On Eorinulse for the Maximum Pressure 

 andLatentHeat of Vapours;" xxiii. "On the SecondLaw of Thermo- 

 dynamics." Here we find grouped a number of the most valuable 

 contributions, as : — xii. " Outlines of the Science of Energetics;" 

 xxiii. " On the Phrase ' Potential Energy,' and on the Definitions of 

 Physical Quantities ;" xiv. " On the Mechanical Action of Heat, 

 especially in Oases and Vapours ;" xix. "On the Mechanical Action 

 of Heat ;" xx. " On the Geometrical Eepresentation of the Expan- 

 sive Action of Heat, and the Theory of Thermodynamic Engines." 

 The concluding nine papers are on Wave-forms, Propulsion of 

 Vessels, Stability of Structures, &c. In this cluster our Magazine 

 claims two notelets — xxxv. " On the application of Barycentric Per- 

 spective to the Transformation of Structures " (N"ov. 1853), xxxvi. 

 " Principle of the Equilibrium of Polyhedral Erames " (Eeb. 1864). 

 Naturally in this division we find, xxix. " On the exact Eorm of 

 Waves near the Surface of Deep Water," xxx. " On Plane Water- 

 lines in two Dimensions ," xxxi. ' ' Elementary Demonstrations of Prin- 

 ciples relating to Stream-lines ;" but we do not meet with " On Stream- 

 lines" (Phil. Mag. 1865), nor "On the Mathematical Theory of 

 Stream-lines " (Phil. Trans. 1871). We have not ventured to take up 

 space with any detailed analysis of Eankine's work, as this has been 

 already admirably done by Clerk-Maxwell ('Nature,' vol.xvii.p. 257), 

 Prof. Tait, and Prof. Osborne Eeynolds. The editor informs us that 

 his aim has been to print " such papers as are most characteristic 

 of their author in his capacity of a scientific and mathematical 

 inquirer." He truly remarks that our author was not a popular 

 writer ; but " all his writings are marked by a power of statement 

 so clear and logical, that the reader, even should he fail entirely to 

 follow the demonstrations, cannot but be benefited in the attempt 

 to master them." Eankine takes a place amongst the three 

 " mighties " who may be said to have been the creators of the 

 science of thermodynamics. " Thomson had the start ; [it] was neck 

 and neck between Eankine and Clausius. But, from the practical 

 point of view, Eankine was alone. And in this respect these 

 papers, as indeed all his others, have a value both intrinsic and as 

 examples of method which even transcends their philosophical 

 value" (Prof. 0. Eeynolds, 'Nature,' No. 595). Prof. Tait's me- 

 moir, though somewhat brief, gives us a very good presentment of 

 the man and the writer, and further tells the story without giving 

 utterance to the "amari aliquid" which sometimes mars his wri- 

 ting. The work is well printed ; and we have detected typogra- 

 phical errors at very rare intervals. 



[When we drew up the preceding Notice, we omitted to consult 

 the " List of Professor Macquorn Eankine's Papers " issued (Nov. 

 1878) by his friend the late J. E. Napier. Erom this list we find 

 that 42 communications were made to the Philosophical Magazine. 

 We learn also the reasons for the delay in the appearance of the 

 " Miscellaneous Scientific Papers." Mr. Lewis D. B. Grordon, the 

 originally proposed chief editor, died " more than two and a half 



