1 882.] 
Analyses of Books. 
361 
I do not show “ that the surface of the earth, also the distribu- 
tion of sea and land, must be exadtly so constituted as it is 
known to be,” but I show why, being constituted as we know it, 
the regularity and organisation existing in that constitution have 
remained unknown , and how, under the operation of meGhanical 
laws, this organisation has progressed in harmony with the 
development and organisation of the solar system. I point out 
that, starting from logical metaphysics about matter, that is 
gravity, and void, that is no matter, older than this book, I traced 
by deduction from known fadts, and by application of mechanical 
laws, that is by induction, that certain fadts should exist in con- 
nection with our earth, and then only looked for them and found 
that they do exist, and thus discovered that the known earth is 
still in many respedts unknown for those who hear and see only 
what suits their big or small selves. 
I therefore congratulate Professor Klinkerfues, who knows 
much more about the materials cast by me in one comprehensive 
mould than I “appear to know” about them, on the caution that 
“ yet ” he “ would not like to exercise a diredtly denying 
criticism.” 
O. R. 
Spoil's Encyclopedia of the Industrial Arts , Manufactures , and 
Commercial Products . (Division V.) Edited by C. G. W* 
Lock, F.L.S. London and New York : E. and F. N. Spon. 
The volume before us completes Messrs. Spon’s great work, and 
we are happy to say that it shows no falling off in care taken in 
compilation and in the general accuracy and value of the subjedl 
matter. The test question for any work of reference like the 
present is simply- — does it contain useful information not readily 
to be met with elsewhere ? And to this we must return a most 
decided affirmative. It might often require a search of some 
hours in the library of the British Museum to find some desired 
fadt which is here recorded. 
Under the heading “ Pigments and Paint,” we find a true but 
somewhat humiliating reflection:— “ We have only to compare 
a Van Eyck with a painting by a modern master — Turner for 
instance — to see that even the best of recent painters have not 
succeeded in giving to their works that durability which the 
originators of the method (oil painting) attained.” This fadt, for 
such it is, is a poor compliment to chemical science, and is a 
proof that the notion of lost arts is not something to be laughed at. 
Whilst making improvement in certain directions, we have been 
losing ground in others. 
Passing over the long and elaborate articles on pottery and on 
VOL, IV. (THIRD SERIES). 2 B 
