Notices respecting New Books, 51 



than in the care with which he has condensed the concluding matter 

 and rejected the less important topics or laborious trivialities which 

 we have noticed in other dictionaries. 



In this brief review of the most extensive and valuable production 

 of its kind which has yet appeared in the English language, the 

 nature of our task has precluded the detailed observations which we 

 might have felt it our duty to make in reference to a smaller book. 

 Anything which Mr. Watts undertakes is invariably executed in so 

 thorough, clear, and direct a manner, that his editorship and prin- 

 cipal authorship are sufficient recommendations to any one who is 

 acquainted with chemical literature. He has, moreover, been for- 

 tunate in obtaining the services of several distinguished chemists 

 and physicists, who have contributed articles on subjects to which 

 they have paid special attention. The whole work has thus the 

 completeness and authority which are due to a well-organized literary 

 plan well executed in all its parts ; and it will probably be for many 

 years the chief standard of reference in this country. 



We venture to make, in conclusion, a recommendation which we 

 are sure will meet with the approval of the majority of our readers. 

 Mr.Watts's dictionary contains several distinct treatises, which have 

 already assumed a high and distinct rank. When business require- 

 ments may permit of such a course, we shall be glad to see such 

 articles as Heat, Electricity, and Analysis published in a separate 

 form. Many persons who, for various reasons, do not intend to be- 

 come possessors of the entire dictionary, would desire to possess one 

 or more of those treatises, which, from their size, portability, and 

 special character, are so very commodious for laboratory use. We 

 are indeed persuaded (and the opinion is perhaps gaining ground) 

 that chemistry ought earnestly to commence making the treatise its, 

 more customary form ; but if this work should prove to be the last, 

 it will certainly have been the best of its race. 



Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes. By the Rev. T. W. Webb, 

 M.A., F.R.A.S. Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. London • 

 Longman and Co. 1868 (pp. 318). 



The title of this work sufficiently indicates that the author's 

 subject is not the aspects of the heavenly bodies collectively, nor 

 their relative motions, but their aspects individually as seen through 

 a " common telescope." A " common telescope" is defined to be 

 one not exceeding about 5 feet in length and 4 inches in aperture. 

 The chief contents of the work are a descriptive account of the solar 

 system, and a list of double stars and nebulae. In both of these divi- 

 sions, the author, while freely mentioning what others have made out 

 by the use of higher powers, has kept very fairly within his limit of 

 acting as a guide to those possessed of " common telescopes." Thus,, 

 in drawing up the list of double stars, he examined in succession 

 with a 3*7-inch aperture all the objects in Admiral Smyth's Bedford 

 Catalogue that there was any prospect of reaching, and retained, 

 those only " which seemed to possess sufficient general as well as 

 scientific interest " (p. 170). To the list thus selected were added 



E 2 



