and this express

sion appears in different forms, according to the different series into which the numerator or denominator is converted. These forms are examined with great judgment; and examples are given of the utility of the four, to which the writer gives the preference. The little use of a series given by Dr. Waring, is properly pointed out, with the means of improving it. And we are concerned to find, the writer hinting "the want of patronage, which the liberal arts (or ought we not to say) sciences have of late years experienced."

18. Catalogue of Five Hundred new Nebula, nebulous Stars, planetary Nebule, and Clusters of Stars, with Remarks on the Construction of the Heavens. By Doctor HERSCHEL.

11. Planetary nebula. 12. Planetary nebula, with centres.

The insulated stars are those stars which are at such a distance from each other, that their influence on each other's motions, is too small for consideration. Of this number is the sun. Double stars are those which, being in appearance one to the naked eye, are within the sphere of each other's gravity, and therefore so as to revolve round a common centre of gravity. As two stars may revolve in this manner, so a system may be formed of three or more stars, which shall act thus upon each other; and it is shown, that whilst two stars are revolving in the same plane round the common centre of gravity, a third star may move up and down perpendicularly to that plane, and passing through the common centre of gravity. Clustering stars are those where there is evident appearance of separate collections, the number of stars not being observed by a greater brightness towards the same in equal spaces. This will be

the centre of each collection, than towards its edges. Groups of stars are collections of closely and almost equaliy compressed stars, of any figure or outline, without any condensation to point out a centre of force, though sufficiently separated from other stars to show that they form peculiar systems. Clusters of stars are generally round, and this compression shows a gradual and pretty sudden accumulation towards the centre. The other names are formed in a similar manner, and a conjecture is hazarded on the nebule, which will astonish a common reader. The light by which the remote ones are seen, must have been almost two millions of years on its way, before it met the eye of the observer. plausible. It resolves itself into this The whole hypothesis is ingenious and question: gravity pervades the whole

system

This

it; and if there is a body very large in of the world, in any portion of proportion to the others near to it, these bodies will revolve in ellipses round the larger body, and form one system, like tance appears like a fixed star. our planetary system, which at a dis system must have an effect, however small, on all the adjoining systems, and these systems may be formed of equal or unequal bodies, varying in number, whose actions on each other may form circular or elliptical orbits, or even make one body move in a straight line. A

cording to the number, and motion, and distance, of the bodies in each separate system, will be their appearances to the eye of the spectator, who will see in them double stars, groups of stars, nebulæ, &c. &c. All of these systems will

act upon each other, and the centre of gravity of the whole, is the centre of gravity of the world. Gravity being admitted, these positions seem to be a necessary consequence, and there is matter for the speculation of infinite ages.

IT gives us much pleasure to observe the vigorous state of this respectable society. The half volume now before us is decidedly the most original and important that it has ever published. Considerable accessions have also been made to the number of its members, among whom we perceive several rames of high respectability. Long may it flourish, and diffuse more and more through the wealthy, ardent, and crowded population in the midst of which it is situated, the refinements of literature, and the resources of science! The following is a brief summary of the contents of this publication.

1. On Tragedy, and the Interest in tragical Representations. An Essay by the Rev. GEORGE WALKER, F. R. S.

The author of this paper first examines the solution proposed by the Abbé du Bos, to the question, why we take pleasure in tragical representations, and is of opinion, that the natural delight which we experience in the agitation of the passions, is by no means a satisfactory reply. Nor is he better satisfied with the theory of Fontenelle, which, besides the cause admitted by Du Bos, includes also the consideration that the distress by which our emotions are excited is only fictitious. To this Hume superadds the elevating and pleasing effect of the poetry and measure in which the fable is related. Mr. Walker, however, differs in opinion from all these writers, and refers the delight experienced from the perusal or exhibition of tragedy to the feeling of compassion or sympathy, by whose agency" the distressing sensations to which we are exposing ourselves appear with that softened aspect, that grace, which a virtuous and benevolent melancholy always wears."

2. Experiments and Observations to deter mine whether the Quantity of Rain and Dew is equal to the Quantity of Water car

ried off by the Rivers, and raised by Evaporation; with an Enquiry into the Origin of Springs. By JOHN DALTON.

This memoir appears to us to be by no means satisfactory, though perhaps as much so as the nature of the case will at present admit of. Mr. Dalton, by collating the registers of the various raingages that have been kept in different parts of England, estimates the mean quantity of rain that falls during the year, in England and Wales, at 1 inches. To this he adds 5 inches for the dew, for no other reason, that we can find, except that Dr. Hales estimated its quantity at 3.28 inches. Thus, according to Mr. Dalton, there are 36 inches, or multiplying this by the surface, 153,176,320,000 cubic yards of water annually deposited on the surface of England, which must be disposed of by the rivers, by the evaporation, and if these are not sufficient by some other

means.

In order to estimate the quantity of water carried down by the rivers, the author divides South Britain into 1. The southern district, including every thing south of the Thames and Severn; 2. The Thames district; 3. The Severn and Wye district; 4. The eastern district; 5. Part of Wales, not included in No. 3; 6. The Humber district; 7. The northern district. Dr. Halley computed the water of the Thames at 20,300,000 tons in a day: this quantity however Mr. Dalton, unsupported by any observation, chooses to reduce to 2-3ds; he therefore estimates the flowing waters of the Thames district, at 1-25th of the rain and dew of all South Britain. The Severn and Humber districts he estimates as each equal to the Thames; the southern district he takes at 14 times the Thames; the eastern district at 1; and the two remaining districts at 4. Thus the whole of the water carried off by the rivers is 13 inches, there remain 23 inches yet to be accounted for.

The

annual evaporation, from some inaccurate experiments by Mr. Dalton, at Man. chester, appeared to equal 30 inches; as this however is 7 inches too much, Mr. Dalton, being apparently resolved to make the quantity of water deposited tally with that carried off by evaporation and the rivers, makes an allowance of 7 inches for errors in his experiments, and thus procures the sum of 36 inches required. From the same vague estimates and guesses he might have deduced any greater or lesser number that he pleased.

3. Experiments and Observations on the Power of Fluids to conduct Heat, with ference to Count Rumford's Essay on the same Subject. By JOHN DALTON.

Count Rumford, from the novel and highly interesting experiments invented. by him, and published in his seventh essay, was induced to deny the power of water and all other fluids to conduct heat downwards; and maintained, that the sole reason why heat is propagated through them at all is in consequence of the heated particles of fluid ascending through the cooler ones by their dimi nished specific gravity. Mr. Dalton, however, in this paper has decisively shewn, that though heat is propagated through fluids chiefly in the way that Count Rumford has discovered, yet that they also possess, though in a small degree, a proper conducting power.

4. Experiments on the Velocity of Air issuing out of a Vessel in different Circumstances; with the Description of an Instrument to measure the Force of the Blust in Bellows, &c. By Mr. BANKS, Lecturer in Natural Philosophy.

By a simple instrument, the construction of which cannot be understood without reference to the plate, Mr. Banks ascertains that a pressure equal to 33 feet of water, will expel air out of bellows with a velocity of 845 feet per second; that one foot of water in depth will produce a velocity of 147 feet, and one inch a velocity of 42 feet per second. The instrument for measuring the force in bellows, is the same in principle, but not so elegant in construction, as the ba

rometer in common use for this in steam engines.

purpose

were taken from the faces of all the women in this kingdom at the age of twenty, excluding only such as were deformed and blemished, and that an artist were to form a face that was the mean

of all these, this face would be the perfect model of our national beauty. And if from several national standards thus obtained, the mean of these should also be taken, this last image would be as perfect a representative as possible of the beauty of the female face. This kind of argument pervades the whole of the essay, and is manifestly false. By such a mode of proceeding our artist might perhaps gain a correct average represen tation of the female face; but the author seems not to be aware that beauty is an uncommon as well as an harmonious arrangement of features, and therefore that the ideal standard of perfect beauty canmade use of in forming an estimate of not originate by the same process as is the national or general character of mind

or features.

is an enquiry whether the Greek statues In the second part of the essay, which do actually correspond to the average standard thus laid down, we meet with sentiment and assertion, but not a single fact at all applicable to the point in question. The Greek statuary was so far from making his Hercules, his Apol of manly strength, manly grace, and fe lo, or Venus, a representation of the mean male beauty, that from the most perfect living models in each kind of corporeal excellence, he selected the leading features of each, and thence composed a harmonious and super-human figure. He even did more; he aspired to im prove upon Nature herself, and thus produced statues exceeding, in particular

proportions, not only the average, but the most exaggerated living types, where he thought that by this deviation he could produce a more striking effect. Thus in all the Greek statues the head is unnaturally small, and the facial angle is unnaturally large.

6. and 7. A Defence of Learning and the Arts, against some Charges of Rousseau, in two Essays. By the Rev. GEORGE WALKER, F. R. S.

This is a spirited refutation of the baseless charges brought against civilization, by Rousseau, in his celebrated essay which was crowned by the Dijon academy.

8. Observations on the nervous Systems of d'fferent Animals; on original Defects in the nervous System of the human Species, and their Influence on Sensation and voluntary Motion. By JOHN HULL, M. D.

In this curicus and interesting paper Dr. Hull endeavours to shew that the vital powers, and sensation, and voluntary motion, are not in all cases dependent upon the brain. He first establishes, by means of Cuvier's researches on this subject, that some of the lower orders of animals, which unquestionably exert voluntary motion, are destitute of brain and spinal marrow. He then details a number of striking cases of infants born destitute of brain and spinal marrow, who have lived a few days, and during that time have taken food, and given other unquestionable evidences of voluntary action. He also shews that in the most defective human monsters, not only brain and spinal marrow, but even distinct and visible nerves have been want ing, and yet the principle of vitality has existed, the arteries and veins have circulated the blood, and several parts have grown and expanded as regularly as if the nervous system had been perfect.

9. Experiments and Observations on the Heat and Cild produced by the mechanical Condensation and Rarefaction of Air. By JOHN DALTON.

The mercury of the thermometer, placed in a receiver, suddenly drops when the air is exhausted, and as suddenly rises when the air is condensed.

The suddenness of the rise and fall suggested to Mr. Dalton the idea that there was a much greater change of temperature than the thermometer indicated, but that the inequality existed for only a few seconds of time, on account of the rapidity with which so bulky a substance as air receives or parts with heat. If this suspicion was well founded, it is obvious that of two thermometers of different sizes placed in the receiver, the smaller one should in equal times indicate greater changes of temperature than the larger one. Several experiments for the ascer taining of this are detailed, the results of which were correspondent to the theory.

10. Account of some Antiques lately found in the River Ribble. By Mr. THOMAS BARRIT.

This is an interesting paper, but can. not be understood without the engraving that accompanies it.

11. Experimental Essays on the Constitution of mixed Gases; on the Force of Steam and Vapour from Water and other Liquids in different Temperatures, both in a Torricellian Vacuum, and in Air ; on Evaporation, and on the Expansion of Gases by Heat. By JOHN DALTON.

This communication is of great value, and reflects much credit on the ingenuity and talents of the author. The experiments appear to have been drawn up with every possible attention to accura cy, and the results are of singular impor tance. In many particulars they entirely contradict the received theories, but they seem to be remarkably in ac cord with each other, and with natural appearances. The closeness of the rea soning would be mutilated and impaired by an abridgement, and the nature of examination which alone is capable of our plan will not allow of that detailed doing justice to the author. Thus circumstanced, we can do no more than earnestly recommend to the scrutiny of our philosophical readers, an essay, in which, among other important matter, it is maintained, That the force of va pour from all liquids, from ether to mercury, is precisely the same at equal distances, above or below their respective boiling points; and that all elastic fluids under the same pressure expand equally by equal degrees of heat.