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TO THE PUBLIC. 
FOURTEEN years are now upon their close since I 
began tlie Philosophical Journal, which has been con- 
tinued, without interruption, through the original scries 
of five quarto volumes, and a second series of thirty-six 
volumes in octavo. Soon after my commencement, the 
Philosophical Magazine was established by my friend 
Mr. Tilloch, who has now very ably conducted it to its 
forty-second volume. During this period the sciences 
and arts have made the most rapid progress. Numerous 
philosophical and mechanical instruments and machines 
have been invented and improved. The theory and 
practice of astronomy have been greatly advanced. New 
planets have been discovered, and tire structure of the 
sun more clearly ascertained. The rays of light have 
been shbjected to new experiments, which have demon- 
strated their separate and distinct powers of illuminating 
and 6f heating; and the wonderful property upon which 
f 
the phenomena of the Iceland cr}stal dfcpend, but which 
