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Leader (1850-1860), 8th May 1852, Edition Country of 2, Page 19

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      Chant's History Of Astronomy. History Of...

      the subject by a , method of a . 'sufficiently comprehensive character . These results Were suppressed by him in the second edition , doubtless in conseauence of theif not exhibiting socomplete an accordance with observation as ^ as manifest in his other researches on the lunar theory . But , as Mr . Grant observes * that Newton really was in possession of a method adequate to a complete investigation of the subject , ia rendered still further probable by the researches of Mir . Adams , who ,, by aid of geometrical considerations analogous to those expounded with so much elegance dn the JPrincipia , has obtained results relative to the movement of the lunar apogee , which present a complete accordance with observation . ¦ ~ Besides the chapters devoted to the all important subject of Gravitation , we would direct special attention to those on the Precession of the

      Equinoxes , and on the Perturbations of the Planets . Indeed , for the union of the exposition of principles with the historical erudition necessary to set forth their rise and progress , this work must take a worthy place . Had it been differently named , criticism would only have had praise to award ; and now that we have briefly told the reader what the book really is , we must leave it in his hands .

      May8,I852.] The Leader. 447

      May 8 , I 852 . ] THE LEADER . 447

      The Melvilles. The Melvilles. By The Aut...

      THE MELVILLES . The Melvilles . By the author of " John Drayton . " In three volumes . Bentley We opened the Melvilles with an eagerness such as rarely moves us towards the three volume task we have so often to undergo ; we were moved by the recollection of John Drayton , & novel animated by a spirit / we were forced to admire and respect , even in the heat of conflict ; a novel exhibiting very remarkable faculties on the part of the writer , whom we then supposed to be a clergyman , whom we now understand to be a lady ; a novel , m short , that preaisposed us to look with indulgent interest upon anything else coming from the same pen . - It is useless hovering about the conclusion ! We must come to it at last , so we may at once express our disappointment . The Melvilles is very inferior to John Drayton . The story is languid , spun out by details and episodes , that do not justify their appearance by their interest , and wanting the reality and purpose of the former book . The style is as graphic , as musical , and as poetical as before ; but the characters are faint , lacking the strong lines of individuality , looking like what they arepersons in a novel . The construction of the story has a simplicity , which , desirable in a philosophic novel , or in one wherein the attention would be centred on the minute , progressive development of character , is ruinous to the interest of a novel without character . Every change is foreseen ; and as the change brings with it no corresponding influence on the characters of the drama ,, its being foreseen makes it uninteresting . If you could actually anticipate all that Smith would say to you in the course of a conversation , it would

      require immense politeness to listen to him , but the element ot unexpectedness invests even Smith with a momenta ^ ry interest . So it is with novels and plays . Only the good can "be read twice , and it is like a second reading , the task of reading with a distinct foreknowledge uf what in to vohic . When Mr . Melville dies , and his widow is left penniless , ( we foresee that Hugh Melville will fail in , getting a clerkship ; we foresee that he will try and be disappointed through several episodes ; we foresee that Isabella and her mother will apply for needlework to support the family , and after some baffling will manage to make enough by the needle to support themselves ; so when John Aikman comes to take lessons of Hugh , we foresee that this not very intelligible version of Dobbin will fall in love with Isabella , and be hawnv with her when the three volumes draw to a close ;

      we foresee that Esther will love her cousin , we foresee that the uncle from India will be the deus ex machinA . In short , without any exercise of the imagination , the whole story unfolds itself , always some chapters ahead ; and the consequence is , that if we read on , it is merely because there is a charm in the style . To the author of John Drayton we should say : You have failed ; but be not discouraged ; there can ' be no doubt of your faculties , but guineas p are only coined from gold , and if , instead of golden experience , you attempt to uso the materials of circulating libraries , all the faculty in the world will not do . Try what can be done with the thoughts you have thought , and the feelings you have felt , and then you may say , as Touchstone says of Audrey , — "An ill-favoured thing , my lord , ' but my own !"

      Books On Our Table. Physiology Applied T...

      BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . Physiology applied to Health and Education . By Andrew Combo , M .. D . Fourteenth Edition , revised and enlarged . Edited by Robert Coxo , M . I ) . fa Simpkin , Marshall and Co . Dn . Andhew Combe was not only an admirable writer and a clear tlrinkoi , ho wojj enabled to preach from the text of his own sufferings , nnd to transmute his otfpoficnco into lessons for mankind . The dolicato health which robbed the world so early of his services , ho turned to good account , in writing of health and education . Hi 3 books are masterpieces of popular exposition . Tho basis is sound , the Materials oxcollont , tho stylo captivating . " Fourteenth edition" on tho titlc-puge of u reall y solid scientific work are magical words ; and wo deliberately say they proinieo nothing which tho work will not fulfil . Dr . ltobort Coxo has vory conniderabl y enlarged tins edition by some valuable additions , bringing the physiology down to tho latest discovorios and idoas . It is a cheap edition , printed in double columns , and has an usefid index .

      2 V < o Ora tions of Cicero . Literally Translated by 0 . D . Yongo , B . A . ( Bo 7 tn ' s Classical XAhrarj / . ) Vola . H , and III . It . G . Bohn . Two moro volumes of Mr . Yongo ' s Cicero do not niter tho opinion wo formerly cxpresHod on tho irnnslntiou . Had Cicero not' written a totally different stylo from that of hia translator , there would have been no " Classical Library" ready to imblish his orations . As a " crib" this translation will bo useful ; but only na a crib . Sir Joshua Reynold ? s Literary Work * - Edited by W . H . Bcoolioy . In Two Volumoa . ( Bohn ' s Standard Library . ) Vol . II . , , II- G . Bohn . Tnn conclusion of these charming works , tho first reading of which wo onvy tiny Wan .

      The Works of Sir Thomas Browne . Edited by Simon Wilkin , FX . S ; ( Bolin ' s Anttquartan Library . ) Vol . III . H . G > Bonn . This third volume concludes the enterprising reprint of Sir Thomas Browne , and contains- ^ -besides the Urn Burial , Christian Morals , Miscellanies , and Coires * ppiidence—an excellent Index to the whole work . Browne ir a subject to which we must return for an article when the publishing season gives us a little leisure and space . " - v Sir John FranJclinand the Arctic Regions : A Letter to Lord John Russell . - By Peter Livingston . > Smith and Son . Mb . Livingston , one of the intelligent lecturers at Mr . Wild ' s Great Globe , availing himself of his admirable opportunities of studying the details of the Arctic Expedition , has drawn up considerations why it would be desirable to send out other vessels in search of the Northern explorers . Somewhat more rhetorical than an appeal to a statesman need "he , th © Letter has scientific information told with a fervour likely to interest the public , whose sympathies will be entirely with the writer .

      Use and Abuse of Capital , Machinery , and Land * By William M'Crombie . Ward and Co . An author , who has won credit for the useful treatment of an abstract moral question , devotes himself here to the theme of the day- —the " Use and Abuse" of Capital and its agencies . The essay is written under a just sense of the responsibilities of the subject , and is far more impartial in its treatment than there was reason to expect . It will be read with instruction and pleasure .

      A Sand-Book Of Organic Chemistry. By W. ...

      A Sand-book of Organic Chemistry . By W . Gregory , M . D . Taylor , Walton , and Co Democritus in London , with the Mad Franks ana Comical Conceits of Motley and Robin Goo * Fellow Wmiuiu Pickering The Exhibition Lay . Groonibridge ^ and Son , Lionel Lincoln . Parts I , and II . By J . F . Cooper . J- «¦• Chapman Lyrical Poems . By P . Do Beranger . Sutherland and Knox , Lectures on the History of Moral Philosophy in England . By W . Whewell . * ' . J . W . Parker and Son . Career of Louit Napoleon . John King . An Essay xipon the Ghost-Belief of Shakespeare . By A . Roffe . Hope and Co , Account qfthe Public Prison of Valencia . , Charles Gilpin . Reminiscences and Reflections of an Old Operative . Smith , Elder , and Co . The Physiology of the Human Voice . ByT . Komer . Leader and Cock . The Laws of Health in relation to Mind and Body . By Ii . J . Bealc . John ^ Churchill . Irish Popular Superstitions . By M . R . Wilde . J . M'Glashan . Course qfthe History of Modern Philosophy . 2 vols . By M . V . Cousin . D . Appleton and Co . The Suitor ' s County Court Guide . By W . W . Charnock . C . Mitchell-Michaud ' sHistoryqfthe Crusades . Vol . 2 . Translated by W . Robson . "' . ... _ . _

      ,, ,-. . „„„„_ , „_ -- „ George Eoutledge and Co . The Melvilles . 3 vols . ¦ . ' , **• Bentley . "Great Artists and Great Anatomists . By E . Enox . John Van Voorst . The Natural History of Animal * . Tola . 1 and 2 . By T . R . Jones . John Van Voorst . Alphonse Kan- —Conies et Nouvelles . W- r } . - Conscience L'innocent . Tome 1 . Par A . Dumas . ,, / t » " George III . et Caroline de Brunswick . Tome 1 . Par L . Gozlon . W , J eHs . LaComtetxe Be Chiirvy . Tome 1 . Par A . Dumas . - W . JeHs . Life and Times of Francesco Sforza , Duke of Milan . 2 -vols . By W . P . Urquhart . ¦ J ¦ J _ . - ¦ ¦ - ¦ ' Blackwood and Sons , Home Circle . Part XXXIV . W . S . Johnson Poetic Works of Louis Napoleon . „ _ . P » vid B ^ Zingra the Gipsy . By A . M . Maillard . G . RoUtledge and Co Mrs . Caudle ' s Curtain Lectures . By Douglas Jerrold , BradbuiT an < l Evans BepulHo efJPiatp . l ' ranslated by J . L . Davles and 1 ) . J . Vaughan . Macniillan ana Co Tales and BalladsBy J . Telfer . W . Tweedie

      . . Catherine Sinclair . W . Tweedie TheBabliofYork . A Tragedy . Baily Brothers Moral and Social Songs . John Robertson Future Prospects of Christianity . By Professor Wewman . John Robertson Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine . W . Blackwood and Sons British Quarterly lleview ., Jaekson and WaJiord Bleak Home . Part III . By Charles Dickens . Bradbury and Evuns , Writings of Douglas Jerrold—Cakes and Ale . Part I . „ Punch Olhco . Mr . Sponqe's Sporting Tour . Part V . Bradbury and Evans . Tait'n Edinburgh Magazine . Sutherland and Knox Boyal Military Magazine . , , V Kent a Household Narrative . W , Wellington-street . Fraser ' s Magazine . J- W . % * T } iev » nd bon . Colburn ' s United Service Magazine . Colbnrn and Co . Aylott and Jones

      British Journal . , Letters on Church Matters . James Rulgwoy Biographical Magazine . J- Passmore Edwards . Law , Constittdio ' n , and " Reform of Convocation . , J- ** . Parker . Penny Maps . Part XXII . Chapman and Hall . Cowie's Bookbinder's Pocket Book and Manual . W . Strango , tun . Chambers' Pocket Miscellany . W . S . Orr and Co . Climate qf Italy in Helaliou to Pulmonary Consumption , By T . H . Burgess . I / ongniau , Brown , Groen and Co . The Portrait Gallery . Part V . W . S . Orr and Co . Free-Trade Fallaci ** 1 tef » tr , 4 . By G-. IT . Young . . Jampa Madden . Parlour Library—Scalp Hunters . By Capt . M . Reid . Simma and M Intyre . The Bookcaie—Italian Sketch Book . By Fanny Lowuld . Sunms and M'lntyro . Prospective lleview . , John Chapman . North British Review . Hamilton , Adams and Co . Records of the School qf Mines , and of Science applied to the Arts . Vol . I . 1 art I . Longman and Co Class Book of Botany , being an Introduction to the Study of the Vegetable Kingdom . By J . H . Ballbur , M . D ., F . R . S . E ., ka . Longman and Co j > , . . .. . ... , » . - . . - - , . ..

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      We Should Jo Our Utmost To Encourage Tli...

      We should Jo our utmost to encourage tlio Bonutiful , fov the Useful encouraf < ea itSC'lt . —flOKTHK ,

      Comte's Positive I'Ll I L O S O V Iiy. B...

      COMTE'S POSITIVE I ' ll I L O S O V IIY . By G . II . Lbwes . Paut VI . — What are the Laws < rf Nature ? This three grcjit initial conceptions of the Positive Philosopliy having been set forth in the preceding sections , I will now give some analysis of the six volumes of scientific exposition forming the Court } de Philosophic Positive . But before finally leaving the subject of Comte ' s Law of Evolution , I will insert a note addressed to me by a friend , which may help to clear up some obscurities in my own expositipn . The importance of the lawwarrants our dwelling on it : — " The following observations may perhaps prove serviceable to the younger students of the Positive Philosophy . In tho Law of Evolution , they must not suppose , as many do , that each of the three periods had a separate and exclusive existence . On tho contrary , the Theological , Metaphysical , and Positive elements , have always co-existed . But in the first period , The-

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 8, 1852, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_08051852/page/19/