260 Notices of Books. [April, 



Hydrostatics, and Pneumatics. The complete work was first 

 published by Messrs. Hachette, in 1868, and it has since been 

 adopted by the Minister of Public Instruction as the text book 

 for Government Schools. We have no work in our own scientific 

 literature to be compared with it, and we are glad that. the trans- 

 lation has fallen into such good hands as those of Prof. Everett. 

 The type is large and clear, and the woodcuts really admirable, 

 and quite a pattern to scientific works in general, as will be seen 

 from the woodcut given below (Fig. 11), which shows the ascent 



Fig. 



of soap-bubbles filled with hydrogen. We are glad, moreover, to 

 notice that the most recent discoveries have been introduced. 



This portion of the book is divided into eighteen chapters, the 

 first seven of which relate to mechanics, the succeeding four to 

 hydrostatics, then five to pneumatics, and the two. last to hydro- 

 dynamics. 



The work commences with some remarks on the origin of 

 Natural Philosophy. The latter is defined as " the study of the 

 material world, including the phenomena which it presents to us, 

 the laws which govern them, and the applications which can be 

 made of them to our various wants." 



Now, we think this definition a little too general, for surely pure 

 physics does not concern itself at all with the applications which 

 may result from the study of its natural phenomena. We think we 



* We are indebted to Messrs. Blackie and Sons for this woodcut. 



