392 
DEATH  OF  HUMBOLDT. 
panion"  is  just  the  work  to  give  this  information  to  the  beginner,  whilst  it 
also  embraces  a  description  of  all  the  higher  grades  of  microscopes, 
well  illustrated  by  figures,  and  enters  into  those  minutiae  of  mani- 
pulatians  practised  by  the  best  microscopists  in  physiological  and  chemical 
research.  There  are  chapters  on  the  mounting  and  preservation  of  objects, 
the  manner  of  conducting  investigations  into  the  nature  of  organic  structure, 
living  and  dead,  and  into  the  characters  of  urinary  and  vesicular  deposits, 
so  important  to  the  physician.  The  Glossary  appended  to  the  book  will  be 
found  useful  in  understanding  micrographical  papers,  and  descriptions  of 
instruments.  On  the  whole,  we  believe  the  work  to  be  a  compilation  of 
much  that  is  valuable  to  amateurs  and  students  from  the  best  writers  on 
the  subject,  besides  much  practical  information  in  reference  to  the  pur- 
chase of  instruments,  their  prices,  and  the  names  of  those  manufacturers 
in  this  country  and  Europe,  noted  for  the  good  quality  of  their  workman- 
ship. 
What  may  be  learned  from  a  Tree.  By  Harland  Coultas,  Author  of 
"  Organic  Life  the  same  in  Animals  as  in  Plants,"  etc. 
We  are  indebted  to  the  author  for  sending  us  some  time  ago,  parts  first 
and  second  of  this  work,  and  we  have  just  now  received  part  third.  The 
former  were  read  with  considerable  interest,  and  as  soon  as  opportunity 
offers,  we  hope  to  derive  pleasure  and  instruction  from  following  the  author 
through  chapter  vii.,  in  which  he  brings  forward  some  new  views  in  regard 
to  the  developement  of  leaves,  and  chapter  viii.  a  sketch  of  the  geological 
records  of  primsBval  botany.  Mr.  Coultas  certainly  has  the  true  enthu- 
siasm of  a  student  of  nature,  and  after  setting  forth  the  numerous  beauties, 
harmonies  and  adaptabilities  of  vegetable  life  as  exhibited  in  the  tree,  he 
uses  them  in  illustration  of  his  views  of  political  and  social  economy — aim- 
ing to  benefit  as  well  as  interest  his  readers.  We  hope  the  author  will 
receive  substantial  encouragement  to  continue  his  work  to  completion.  It 
is  issued,  for  convenience,  in  a  serial  form,  at  twenty-five  cents  the  num- 
ber of  48  pages.  For  sale  by  John  Alexander,  52  South  Fourth  Street, 
Philadelphia. 
DEATH  OF  HUMBOLDT. 
The  recent  notices  of  the  gradual  decline  of  this  illustrious  European  phil- 
osopher have  prepared  the  public  for  the  intelligence  of  his  decease,  which  is 
announced  as  having  taken  place  in  Berlin  on  the  6th  of  May.  Had  he  lived 
but  a  few  days  more  than  four  months  longer  he  would  have  completed  the 
ninetieth  year  of  his  age.  His  fame  belonged  not  only  to  Europe,  but  to  the 
world,  and  in  this  country  especially,  probably  no  man  who  was  known  to  us 
only  through  the  medium  of  his  scientific  writings  was  held  in  equal  reverence 
and  admiration.  The  simple  record  of  his  life  forms  the  noblest  monument  to 
his  memory.  We  need  only  gather  up  the  successive  facts  in  his  career  to 
show  that  the  "  man  of  the  century  "  has  been  taken  from  the  world. 
Freidrich  Heinrich  Alexander  von  Humboldt  was  born  in  Berlin,  Sept.  14, 
1769.  His  father,  who  was  a  man  of  military  and  civil  distinction  in  Prussia, 
died  when  his  son  was  but  ten  years  old,  but  the  latter  still  enjoyed  the  advan- 
