22 6 Analyses of Books. [April, 
musicians contribute largely to swell the ranks of the insane, 
those whose minds are engaged in more practical study, such as 
physicians, naturalists, chemists, &c., seldom become inmates of 
asylums.” He fails, however, to draw the evident conclusion,— 
i e. the necessity of minimising the time and effort devoted to 
the’ study of words and abstractions, and turning the intellect to 
the consideration of things. An education based upon Science 
is therefore no less necessary for national health than it is tor 
training up discoverers and inventors, the class of society whose 
numbers and efficiency in any country determines its greatness. 
Had Dr. Churchill duly weighed this part of his subject he would 
scarcely have written the last sentence of his pamphlet, to wit : 
<( 't'hen may we hope for the day when mathematics and 
classics shall stand a chance of competing successfully with 
athletics and cyclics as the pleasurable pursuit of youths who 
are determined to make their very best way in the world.” 
Mathematics are of course necessary as a preparatory discipline 
for the astronomer, the physicist, and perhaps the chemist ; but 
of classics we have had far too much, and it is in consequence 
of that error that we make comparatively so poor a figure in 
scientific research. We must cultivate conception and origina- 
tion in place of expression,— things instead of words,— unless we 
would as a nation fall hopelessly into the background. 
Nineteenth Report of the Board of Visitors to the ( Melbourne ) 
Observatory, together with the Annual Report of the Go- 
vernment Astronomer. Melbourne : Ferres. 
From this Report we learn that the weather forecasts are now 
extended to the northern districts of the colony. The Board 
strongly advise the introduction of incandescent lamps at the 
Observatory in place of gas, as the heated air is a souice of 
inconvenience. 
The death of Mr. Joseph Turner, one of the assistants, is put 
on record. The deceased had done much valuable work in con- 
nection with the revision of the Southern Nebulae. 
Long-continued earthquake disturbances have been felt in 
Tasmania during the past year, and they appear to be extending 
towards the southern part of Australia. It is therefore sug- 
gested that the Observatory should be fitted up with seismo- 
graphical apparatus. 
