126 
Notices of Books . 
[January, 
Elementary Arithmetic, with Brief Notices of its History. By 
R. Potts, M.A. Cambridge : W. Metcalfe and Son. 
London : the National Society’s Depository. 
This work differs strikingly in some respedts from the ordinary 
arithmetical treatises used in schools. The first of the twelve 
sections of which the work consists is devoted to an introductory 
dissertation on number, on numerals, and the history of arith- 
metic, and contains much curious and interesting information. 
The second sedtion treats on money, and gives a history of the 
British coinage from Tasciovanus, king of the Trinobantes 
(b.c. 30 to a.d. 5), down to the present day. Sedtion III. is de- 
voted to the consideration of weights and measures. The writer 
is evidently hostile to the metric system, and we may venture to 
say that one of the main objedts of the work before us is to delay 
or altogether prevent its introduction into England. We regret 
that such a spirit should find scope in a work which, if we mis- 
take not, is adopted as a text-book in the “ National ” schools of 
England. What advantages are to follow from the retention of 
our present involved and cumbrous system the author does not 
show, and we cannot help suspedting that, both on his part and 
on that of the three eminent men of science who share his 
opinions, prejudice — perhaps scarcely conscious — is in reality 
the moving power. With many very well meaning but not over 
clear-headed people we know that the metric system is in some 
mysterious way associated with atheism, Robespierre, and the 
reign of terror. The proposal to abolish the so-called “ compound” 
rules of arithmetic, and to make all addition simple addition, is 
supposed to involve a covert plot against the altar and the 
throne. Sedtion IV. treats of time and its divisions, Sedtion V. 
of logarithms, and it is not until Sedtion VI. that the considera- 
tion of the ordinary rules of arithmetic is taken up. 
Were it not for the attack upon the metric system we should 
feel bound to give the work our cordial recommendation, and as 
it is we must bear witness to the clearness with which the author 
unfolds every successive portion of his subjedt, and aims very 
successfully at rendering each step thoroughly intelligible to the 
student. 
Monthly Notices of the Papers and Proceedings of the Royal 
Society of Tasmania, for 1874. Tasmania : Mercury Office, 
Hobart Town. 
The amount of valuable work which may be done by our colo- 
nial scientific societies is immense. To them the learned world 
must look for detailed and accurate accounts of the fauna and 
