New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-11-05
From the Galden RuIe. Oet u:
POPULAR LECTURES ON SCIENCE AND am

POPULAR LECTURES ON SCIENCE AND ARR
BY DIoNYsIus LARpNER, LII. II.
We have intended, for some time, 10 speak of
this valuable work in the way it deserves, but have
been prevented by other duties and want OF room
And now We cannot devote the space to 1t which
we should wish and must coniine ourseii tn u hrei
notice of its contents, style, aud usefulness w e
know OF no work more truly worththe money asked
for it, than this nor one winch we can more cor
dially commend to our readers and the public. The
well known talents and learning OF DR. Lardner,
are sufficient proof that whatever is attempted by
him. will be done. aud well done. AMI when we
mention in connection with his name tile subject
treated in these volumes, no more need he SAID la
establish their value and useful character.
; In Astronomy we have ESSAYS, To use the Doc
tors modest term on the sun, The Moon, The
Earth Major Planets, Minor Planets, New Planets.
Halley's Comet, Periodic Comets, Physical Consti.
tuition OF Comets, The Visible Stars Plurality OF
Worlds, The Stellar Universe, How TO observe the
Heavens. Connected with these, somewhat, We
have Eclipses, Meteorc Stones and Shooting
Stars Aurora Borcalis The Moon and w Gather.
Weather Almanacs Lunar Influences, Latitudes
and Longitudes, and The Tides Then we have
Electricity, The Atmosphere. Atmospheric Eleo-
tricty, Magnetism Electro Magnetism, Effects oi
Lightning, Thunder storms, Protection from Light
ming, Watorspouts and Whlrwinds Again. We
find Dissertations on Light, Heat, The Thcrmome-
ter Barometer, Evaporation, Combustion, h!astIcl-
" of Air, Matter and its Physical Properties, Thco
nv, of Colors, and Popular Eallacies. Then come
Mechanics, Composition and Resolution OF Force.
Center of Gravity, Lever and Wheelwork, Pulley,
Plano, Wedge and Screw; which closed up
with laborcd and most valuable and detailed eN'
position of the Steam Engine. which IS IN itself
worth the price OF the book to those interested III
the inv estigation OF steam, ITS powers and uses
Such are the contents oi this great work anu
though the general reader may think he Will be
overwhelmed BY scientific terms, hart words and
uptnteliiyihlc phrases and assertions. nothing is
farther from the truth These Lectures are en-
phaticaily Science and art made easy There Is
no pedantry or display OF learning attempt 70
Impress the reader with the authors wonderful
knowledge; but all the rechnicalities OF science
are avoided. or made perfectly plain to the hum.
how easily he comprchends what he thought at
first would be wholly beyond his reach And
there is hero another feature which IS worth men,
tioning, The Doctor has so happily blended the
history OF science with the exposition o; ITS primer
pies, that the miSad has no chance 10 be iatiSucd
but gides so easily irom to.i'to pleasure or t'nds
them so mixed and interviewer that 1t Is unable 70
distinguish one from the other,
Bnt we must conclude We have written ut some
length believing that We could not do our readers
better service than To hrins this work 10 their no
tico and perusal Aud We think 1t would be q most
excellcn. move II every town aud village would
have two or three copies IN their library; And
country Lyceums could no, DO better than 70 have
one or more OF these Lectures reaL before them,
bv some competent person, every evening OF meet
ing The srloRnt OF actual iaiormstion and proht
would be g hundred N,d more than IS gotten tron'
most of the apologies for Lectures for which they
paw ten or fifteen dollsrs We would advise the
oxpcrixcnt and we will warrant its SUCCESS
Might not our LODGES also be benefited inthe same
way woaid i, no. add greatly 70 the interest
and instruction Of our meetings We thlnS So
verify and shossid like TO see It tried,