Notices respecting New Books. 301 



meanwhile, Mr. Stanley deserves our thanks for having carried on 

 these researches, and for having, to the best of his ability, put 

 them on record. 



It was the author's idea to divide his book into four sections ; 

 the fourth however, on sound-motions in fluids, is for the present 

 kept in abeyance, though we are told that it is written. It would 

 now, of course, have to discuss the recent discoveries of telephones, 

 microphones, phonographs, et id genus omne. 



The first section treats of theoretical conditions of the fluid 

 state and motive properties of forces in fluids. Here, in the 

 second chapter, Mr. Stanley goes against the theory accepted 

 from Segner to Clerk Maxwell, and takes the view that the surfaces 

 of liquids are extensile, and not tensile. He, however, modestly 

 enough thinks that he may have insufficiently worked out this 

 subject, "although my experiments in this, as in most other 

 subjects taken, are ten times the number given." Throughout 

 there is the same diffidence. Thus, again, in his eighth chapter, 

 on resistance of solids, he remarks that "it is very incomplete on 

 certain points for want of sufficient research into the works of 

 others, and more experiment; therefore it may be considered to be 

 in a certain degree speculative." 



The fifth chapter discusses the projection of fluids within like 

 fluids, the principles of conic resistance, and planes of fracture and 

 tension. This contains many matters of interest, amongst others 

 the interesting experiments of Tait and O. Reynolds on smoke- 

 rings, with some of the author's own experiments. 



The second section is devoted to the discussion of cosmical 

 phenomena ; and herein he follows to some extent ideas put forth 

 by Dr. Carpenter and other writers. 



The third section is concerned with waves, experiments on which 

 were made before the writer was acquainted with Scott-Russell's 

 experiments. "As I was working for the demonstration of 

 principles only, I do not regret the want of this knowledge at first ; 

 for if I had possessed it at the time it would have materially 

 curtailed the interest I took in my experiments. ... I have, 

 however, replaced Mr. Russell's work for my own, where it 

 appeared more demonstrative." 



Mr. Stanley has received very little help, except from books, 

 references to which are given throughout ; he, however, warmly 

 thanks Professors Puller and Stokes for " valuable occasional critical 

 notes " on the earlier portion. The book is well printed and 

 illustrated. 



