1867.] Louis Figuier. 179 



each, and then in series ; and if some enterprising English publisher 

 would arrange for its republication in England — taking care to 

 add a fuller account of those British inventions to which M. Figuier 

 naturally devotes a more limited space than to those of his own 

 countrymen — we have little doubt that th& venture would prove 

 remunerative. 



* Les Merveilles de la Science ' * is a handsome quarto volume, 

 containing a most agreeable history of the Steam Engine, Steam 

 Boats, Locomotives, Electrical Machines, Lightning Conductors, the 

 Voltaic Pile, and Electro-Magnetism. Doubtless many of his 

 illustrations are fanciful; at least they represent events in the 

 history of Science (such as " James Watt, etudiant le perfectionne- 

 ment de la machine de Newcomen ") which were at the time of so 

 little importance in the eyes of the world, compared with the 

 butcheries of successful generals, that they are not likely to have 

 boasted a special limner ; but be that as it may, the sketches of the 

 various scenes on scientific history are very attractive, and are 

 typical of a phase in historical studies not to be met with in any 

 similar work. Were it only for his pleasing reminiscences of the 

 scientific History of Britain, we could not help giving our 

 tribute of admiration to M. Figuier 's work, where the reader will 

 find sketches of " Savery in the Tavern," " Humphrey Potter, or 

 the Lazy Genius," " Black making experiments on Latent Heat," 

 various reminiscences of James Watt and the Soho Works, &c. 



The foreign scenes are also excellent, and the portraits, com- 

 mencing with that of Bacon and ending with Kuhmkorff, appear 

 very good, and are certainly of an order hardly to be expected in a 

 serial at ten centimes. When we add that one of the last sketches 

 is that of Wilde's magneto-electrical machine, which appeared in 

 our number of last October, it will be evident that M. Figuier is 

 not unconscious of the latest scientific novelties. 



Indeed it is not likely that he ever will be far behind his age as 

 long as he continues to compile and publish another work before 

 us, ' L' Annee scientifique et industrielle, 'f to which we shall now 

 devote a few closing remarks. 



The frontispiece to M. Figuier 's "Annual" represents the 

 eruption of the Volcanic Island of Santorin, copied from a photo- 

 graph, and its contents comprise accounts of all events and dis- 

 coveries of note in every branch of science, with accounts of the 

 proceedings of scientific societies, and obituaries of eminent men ; 

 indeed it greatly resembles our own " Chronicles of Science." M. 

 Figuier should, in future, request some English friend to look over 



* 'Les Merveilles de la Science, ou description populaire des Inventions 

 modernes.' Par Louis Figuier. Paris : Furne, Jouvet & O. 1866. 



f ' L' Anne'e Scientifique et Industrielle, ou Expose Annuel des Travaux Scien- 

 tifiques, des Inventions et des Principales Applications de la Science a l'lndustrie, 

 aux Arts, &c.' Par Louis Figuier. (ll me Annee, 1866.) Paris : L. Hachette & O. 

 1867. N 2 



