xxi 



read before the British Association and published in 1845 in the Philo- 

 sophical Magazine (Series 3, vol. xxvii. p. 81). He thus became inter- 

 ested at an early period in the subject of spectrum investigation. 



Miller continued during some years to use as his text-book Professor 

 Daniell's ' Introduction to the study of Chemical Philosophy/ supple- 

 mented at a later period by Fownes's * Manual of Chemistry.' The 

 writer of this notice repeatedly urged Dr. Miller to bring out a work of 

 his own, which should be better suited to the wants of his pupils ; but he 

 hesitated in doing so lest he should at all interfere with his predecessor's 

 work. " I must prepare the book/' he said, " from my lecture-notes, and 

 you are not aware how much of Daniell I have in them." For some time 

 his idea was to accede to a proposal of the publisher of Daniell's work to 

 bring out a third edition, making such additions thereto as the progress of 

 science required, and to maintain it in its old position as the text-book. 

 But on looking over Daniell with this view, he found that so many addi- 

 tions and alterations would be required as greatly to supersede the author's 

 peculiar touches ; so that he finally decided to produce a new work, and 

 the first volume accordingly appeared in 1855. In the preface to this 

 volume, which was devoted to " Chemical Physics," the author stated that 

 " he had decided to leave untouched the work of his late master, as the true 

 exponent of his views, upon some of those branches of science which his 

 researches had contributed to advance and adorn." The two subsequent 

 volumes on "Inorganic" and "Organic Chemistry," which appeared, the 

 one in 1856 and the other in 1857, were written from Miller's lecture- 

 notes, as was also the case with the " Chemical Physics," the notes being 

 so amplified as to form continuous reading, a process which led to so many 

 insertions and alterations as to make the manuscript difficult to read. 

 But the effect of this mode of treatment was so far advantageous that 

 when the books were introduced to the students, they, so far from having 

 to conform to any new method, seemed to recognize in the new text-books 

 the very lectures they had heard. 



The three volumes of Miller's 'Elements of Chemistry' passed through 

 several editions, and were reprinted in the United States of America. While 

 not professing to set forth any marked original views, the work affords a clear 

 and comprehensive exposition of the science, and soon became deservedly 

 popular. In the later editions Miller adopted the new method of notation 

 in chemistry. His conservative principles led him to resist this change as 

 long as it was possible to do so. Moreover, having been, during so many 

 years, accustomed to the old notation, he never took kindly to the new. 

 Indeed it was part of Miller's character to grasp a new idea with a certain 

 amount of mental slowness ; but when once fairly appreciated, it was held 

 tenaciously and not given up without a severe struggle. But he was so 

 conscientious that he would sacrifice every thing to what he held to be 

 the truth. The writer has known him to refuse to hold any further 

 intercourse with a foreign man of science whom he had received into his 



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