REVIEWS. 
103 
American iron-cased vessels in actual warfare, imperfectly as they are 
constructed when compared with the Warrior or Black Prince, is very 
remarkable. Whilst, on the other hand, the terrible effect of shells on 
the wooden Cumberland, in the battle of Hampton Roads, which, in a short 
half hour, made her interior look like “ a burnt and sacked house ” and 
sent her blazing to her ruin, may teach us that, whether absolute invul- 
nerability is attainable or not, it is a prime necessity of modern warfare, 
and a guarantee for peace, to provide such security as iron will afford 
against these new missiles. 
A Glossary of Miner alorjy. By Henry William Bristow, F.G.S. 
Longman. London. 1862. 
M INERALOGY is a science that has few votaries in England, but a 
certain knowledge of it is indispensable to the chemist and geologist; 
and to these the book lately published by Mr. Bristow will be found 
extremely useful, if not indispensable, for reference. 
Mr. Bristow does not confine himself to a mere alphabetical descriptive 
list. In a short introduction he notices the various properties of minerals 
and the modes of determining them. Like other geologists who have to 
use this science as an adjunct, he leans to a chemical arrangement, quoting 
tire method followed by Professor Warrington Smyth at the Museum 
of Economic Geology, which in all essential features resembles that 
adopted by Professor Ansted in his Elementary Course of Geology and 
Mineralogy. He introduces a very large number of synonyms ; and the 
accounts of the principal minerals are pithy, definite, and comprehensive. 
Remarkable specimens in the public museums of England are referred to, 
and localities are not neglected. The composition is quoted either by 
chemical symbols or as a distinct analysis. 
In the present state of mineralogical science — and it is not likely soon to 
improve — there is a great advantage in the alphabetical arrangement, as 
those who have consulted the works of Dana and even of Phillips, in its 
most approved form, will generally admit ; and we doubt not that Mr. 
Bristow’s book will be useful. We would suggest, however, that in a 
future edition he should give a few more cross references, and bring down 
his list of localities to accord with recent discoveries. It is rather puzzling 
to have to think under what heading sulphur, silver, and copper are to be 
sought, and not easy to see why gold should be described under its own 
name and the other minerals we have mentioned as natives. We miss, too, 
names so common as Kaolin, finding Pe-tun-tse and Kunlcur, which are 
much less defined varieties. We miss also Lederolite (a variety of Chabasite) ; 
Marmalite (a variety of Blende), and a few others. These are pointed out 
rather to show that a careful revision is desirable, than as finding fault 
with a task which, on the whole, is very well accomplished. 
