1879.] 
( 6 4 2 ) 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
Fragments of Science: A series of detailed Essays, Addresses, 
and Reviews. By John Tyndall, F.R.S. Sixth edition. 
London : Longmans and Co. 1879. 
This valuable collection of scientific essays now appears in the 
form of two substantial volumes, containing articles contributed 
to various magazines, Royal Institution ledtures, and the 
celebrated Belfast Address. The range of subjeCt-matter is very 
large : physics proper, chemistry, geology, philosophy, and even 
theology, are discussed in one or other of the articles. While 
the first volume deals specially with the phenomena of matter; 
the second treats of the correlation of phenomena of mind and 
matter. In the preface to this edition the author says: “In 
neither volume have I aspired to sit in the seat of the scornful, 
but rather to treat the questions touched upon with a tolerance, 
if not a reverence, befitting their difficulty and weight.” 
In the first volume, the author introduces various contribu- 
tions to molecular physics ; experiments on para-magnetic and 
diamagnetic forces ; on dust and disease ; and on fog signals. 
The memoirs of Faraday, Mayer, and Joule also appear; and 
the first article discusses spiritualism. In the second volume 
we find the well-known articles on scientific materialism, on the 
efficacy of prayer, and on the scientific use of the imagination. 
The Belfast Address, the apology for it, and the reply to the 
Rev. James Martineau’s essay on the subjecft, are also here 
given. Then follow various ledtures on fermentation, the germ- 
theory, and spontaneous generation, and the book is concluded 
by the ledture on the eledtric light delivered at the Royal 
Institution in January last. We feel sure that although the 
essays on materialism and prayer will offend the sensibilities of 
many readers, these fragments of science will continue to receive 
a large share of public attention. 
Researches on the Motion of the Moon, made at the United States 
Naval Observatory , Washington. By Simon Newcomb, 
Prof. U.S. Navy. Part I. Washington. 1878. 
This first part of what will be a very lengthy and valuable 
monograph relates to the reduction and discussion of observa^ 1 
