104 



and Thisbe, when the part of Pyramus had been originally 

 assigned to him, is the only counterpart we can remember. 

 We might say with Peter Quince : " You can play no part 

 but Pyramus; you must needs play Pyramus." 



By a similar and equally satisfactory method of reason- 

 ing, the author makes out that during the next succeeding 

 moments the molecule will descend through 7 H, 9 H, &c. 

 In each instance he is obliged to employ the degree of ener- 

 gy acquired in the last of the preceding moments twice 

 over, in order to bring the space up to the required amount. 

 We claim that a system which requires such special pleading 

 to support the conclusions drawn from it, is totally un- 

 worthy of confidence. 



If there is one part of this book which is worse than 

 another, it is that in which the laws of light, heat, electri- 

 city, magnetism, &c, are treated. We absolutely sickened 

 with the amount of twaddle about antagonist and diremp- 

 tive forces, with which the author regales us. Blunders, 

 too, may be detected on almost any page. Observe, for in- 

 stance, to what conclusion rational insight leads the author, 

 (p. 167 near the bottom) in discussing the inclination of the 

 magnetic needle. He finds that at a latitude of 45° the 

 needle will be at right angles with the axis of the earth, 

 and therefore that the dip of the needle will be 45° at a la- 

 titude of 45°, and increase till it is 90° at the pole. Now it 

 so happens that for all places in the United States the dip 

 at 45° of latitude is more than 75°, thirty degrees more 

 than rational insight finds to be proper. Again, the author 

 unconditionally assigns the dip of 90° to the magnetic 

 needle at the pole. But Capt. Boss found 90° inclination a 

 little N. W. of Green Bay in latitude 70° 5'. It is very 

 evident that as far as the phenomena of magnetism are con- 

 cerned, our world has not been constructed on the eternal 

 principles which Dr. Hickok has laid down. Wherever else 

 these principles find their application — or whether they 



