Select Books on Natural Philosophy

Hauy's Elementary Treatise on Natural Philosophy, translated by Dr. O. Gregory, 2 vols., 8vo. This translation contains a number of valuable notes by the translator.—Ferguson's Lectures on Select subjects in Mechanics, etc., by Sir D. Brewster, 2 vols., 8vo., with a vol. of plates. The Appendix to this work, by Sir D. Brewster, contains a mass of valuable information on Mechanics, Hydraulics, Dialing, and the construction of Optical Instruments; beside a variety of illustrative notes interspersed through the wo[gap — reason: unclear] which comprises a detailed account of the recent discoveries in Experimental Philosophy.—Nicholson's Introduction to Natural Philosophy, 2 vols., 8vo.—Cavallo's Complete Treatise on Natural and Experimental Philosophy, 4 vols., 8vo.— Martin's Philosophia Britannica, 3 vols., 8vo.; his Gentleman and Lady's Philosophy; 3 vols., 8vo.; and his Philosophical Grammar, 1 vol., 8vo.—Herschel's Preliminary Discourses on the study of Natural Philosophy.—Lardner's Hydrostatics, Mechanics, and Pneumatics.—Professor Quetelet's Facts, Laws, and Phenomena of Natural Philosophy.—Partington's Manual of Natural and Experimental Philosophy, 2 vols., 8vo.—Sir D Brewster's Treatise on Optics.—Smith's Complete System of Optics, 2 vols., 4to., with 93 plates, containing 941 figures, 1738.—Arnot's Elements of Physics, 2 vols., 8vo.—Gregory's Economy of Nature, 3 vols, 8vo.; and his Lectures on Experimental Philosophy, Astronomy, and Chemistry, 2 vols., 12mo.—Joyce's Letters on Experimental Philosophy, 2 vols., 12mo.; and his Scientific Dialogues, 18mo.—Adams’ Lectures on Natural and Experimental Philosophy, 4 vols., 8vo., with a vol. of plates.—Young's Lectures on Natural Philosophy, 2 vols., 8vo.—Walker's System of familiar Philosophy, 4to., in 12 lectures, with 47 4to. engravings.—Conversations on Natural Philosophy by the author of Conversations on Chemistry, one thick vol., 12mo., with 23 engravings.—Blair's Grammar of Natural Experimental Philosophy, especially the late editions, contains (at a small price), a comprehensive view of the principal departments of Philosophy, including Astronomy, Geology, Chemistry, Meteorology, etc.—Euler's Letters to a German Princess, 2 vols., 8vo., contains a popular view of the most interesting subjects connected with Natural and Experimental Philosophy, Logic, and Ethics. This work is distinguished by a vein of dignified and scriptural piety, which runs through every part of it. Euler was one of the most distinguished Philosophers and Mathematicians of his day. He died in 1783, at the age of 77. An edition of this work, containing notes by Sir D. Brewster, has been published. These notes are excellent, so far as they extend; but it is to be regretted that they are so sparingly distributed, and that the passages suppressed by M. Condorcet and De la Croix, which were restored by Dr. Hunter, who translated the work, and the notes of the French and English editors, are for the most part discarded. As a work of general information in elation to the physical sciences and other useful departments of knowledge, Chambers's Information for the People may be recommended to common readers, as a very useful and comprehensive compend of Science, History, Civil and Natural Geography, Ve- page 160 getable and Animal Physiology, Chemistry, Electricity, Magnetism, etc. It is the cheapest book that has hitherto been published, when we consider the quantity of letter-press, and the vast mass of information it contains.

Notwithstanding the numerous excellent treatises which are to be found on this subject, a comprehensive work on experimental Philosophy, blended with sketches of those parts of natural history which are connected with it, and enlivened with appropriate reflections on the peculiar agencies of Deity, which appear in the various processes of nature—is still wanting to interest the general reader, and to attract his attention to this department of knowledge. Were philosophers, in their discussions of natural science, more frequently to advert to the agency of the Deity, and to point out the Religious and Philanthropic purposes to which modern discoveries might be applied, they might be the means of promoting, at the same time, the interests both of science and religion, by alluring general readers to direct their attention to such objects, and by removing those groundless prejudices which a great proportion of the Christian world still entertain against philosophical studies. About the period when Boyle, Ray, Derham, Nieuwentyt, Whiston, Addison, the Abbe Pluché, and other Christian philosophers flourished, more attention seems to have been paid to this subject than at present. Since the middle of the last century, the piety of philosophers appears to have been greatly on the decline. It is to be hoped that it is now beginning to experience a revival. But whatever may be the varying sentiments and feelings of mere philosophers, in reference to the agencies of the material system, “all the works of God invariably speak of their Author,” to the humble and enlightened Christian; and if he be directed to contemplate the order of nature with an eye of intelligence, he will never be at a loss to trace the footsteps and the attributes of his Father and his God.