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theory. Prof. Wurtz, who startled us some years ago by asserting that 
chemistry is essentially a French science, is an ardent admirer of the theory 
which the English philosopher developed, and has written upon this subject 
a valuable work, which forms one of the recent volumes of the International 
Scientific Series. To say that the work has been admirably written is only 
to say what might be expected of anything that comes from the pen of so 
accomplished an author. Moreover, it is, on the whole, tolerably impartial, 
though we are inclined to think that the important work of Avogadro was 
deserving of fuller recognition. M. Wurtz’s book falls into two parts — the 
first dealing with Atoms, and the second with Atomicity : the latter, how- 
ever, is not treated so comprehensively as the former subject. After carefully 
looking through the book, we are unable to say where else, in the English lan- 
guage, the student will find so complete an exposition of the atomic theory 
in its bearings upon modern chemistry. It is a pleasure to add that the 
translator has rendered his author into admirable English. 
MEMOIR OF A YOUNG CHEMIST. 
1 T'TTHOM the gods love die young/ The death of Thomas Wills, at the 
▼ V early age of twenty-eight, furnishes another illustration of this adage. 
Singularly amiable as a Christian gentleman, and highly accomplished as a 
chemical lecturer, Mr. Wills was esteemed and beloved by all who knew 
him. The work that he accomplished in his brief life was not only highly 
creditable in itself, but gave fair promise of a brilliant future. Mr. Wills 
was, originally, assistant to Dr. Odling at the Royal Institution, and after- 
wards became Demonstrator in Chemistry at the Royal Naval College. To 
reproduce his papers, as has been done in this work, was a fit tribute to his 
memory ; but to write a biography of one who had so short a career was a 
matter of questionable expediency. However interesting the anecdotes of 
childhood may be to the family of the deceased, they are apt, in many cases, 
to give rise to a smile when read by a stranger. Nevertheless, we sympa- 
thize with the spirit in which the little volume has been written. The 
tenderness of a mother breathes warmly through every page, and the critic 
stands disarmed. 
A SIMPLE BOOK ON HEAT. 
rpiIIS is an unpretending little work, put forth for the purpose of ex- 
J- pounding, in simple style, the phenomena and laws of Heat. No 
strength is vainly spent in endeavouring to present a mathematical view of 
the subject. The author passes over the ordinary range of matter to be 
found in most elementary treatises on heat, and enlarges upon the applica- 
* The Life of Thomas Wills, F.C.S. By his Mother Mary Wills 
Phillips, and her friend J. Luke. 8vo. London; James Nisbet & Co. 1880. 
t A Simple Treatise on Heat. By W. Mattieu Williams, F.R.A.S., 
&c. With 26 illustrations. 8vo. London : Chatto & Windus. 1880. 
