2 - Preface, 



he had a complete theory to communicate. No single discovery 

 was of sufficient importance to occupy a whole volume. Hence 

 the frequency of two or more individuals heing occupied with the 

 same pursuits, publishing on the same subject, and making the 

 same discoveries without any knowledge of what was done by 

 each other. The labours of science were not sufficiently sub- 

 divided, and labourer after labourer was apt to move on in the 

 same beaten and unprofitable track. Periodical works save the 

 irksome task of multifarious epistolary correspondence. Every 

 discovery is published as soon as made, fruitless labour is spared., 

 and emulation is kept up and increased by the mutual discoveries 

 of different individuals, by the jarring of opinions, and the 

 clashing of different interests. 



The first periodical work of science which made its appearance 

 in Britain was the Philosophical Traiisaciions, begun in 1665, 

 and continued for many years, in numbers, published monthly, 

 quarterly, or annually, as materials were more or less copiously 

 supplied. The Journal des S^avans in Paris, and the Leipsic 

 Acts in Germany, were somewhat similar in their plan. About 

 the middle of the 18th century the Philosophical Transactions 

 altered their form, and came to be published only in volumes. 

 From that period they have consisted entirely of original papers, 

 and have taken no notice of the discoveries made by foreigners, 

 nor of the scientific books which have made their appearance in 

 different countries. Thus Britain no longer possessed a periodi- 

 cal philosophical journal. The Monthly and Critical Reviews 

 indeed had commenced, and were conducted with considerable 

 spirit ; but being entirely confined to criticisms on books, they 

 could scarcely be considered as registers of the discoveries in 

 science. Perhaps the Gentleman's Magazine, which was con- 

 ducted for many years with much ability, and which contained 

 a great deal of philosophical as well as miscellaneous information, 

 would have been entitled to rank as a philosophical journal," had 

 not the greater number of its columns been filled with articles of 

 belles lettres and antiquarian research. 



The first philosophical journal, exactly similar to several which 

 had already existed for some time on the continent, was begua 

 by Mr. ¥/i!!iara Nicholson in 1797? under the title of A Journal 

 of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and the Arts. The editor of 

 this journal was well qualified for the office which he undertook. 

 The journal for several years was excellent, and fully entitled to 

 stand a comparison with any periodical work of the kind which 

 had ever appeared. But, owing probably to the quarto form in 

 which if was for some time published, it never acquired so ex- 

 tensive a cifcolation as might liave been expected from its value. 



