Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-20
roriess Of view books.

History Of the TldaeUs Sesess from ne eoF''s'i %
TO tis present. tine, BY WILLIAM EHEwELL, D. D.
Master Of Trinity College, Cambridge cots. For
sale BY ". 7, BERRY & Co.
The mere announcement Of work from the pen
Of DR.. WaEwEIb, aWakena feelings Of pleasure in
the mind Of every scholar The work before US is
The result Of life time Of thought and study, com
prising the malured wisdom Of ons Of the most ao-
i've and inquiring minds Of the age. The Physical
Sciences have occupied more Of DR.. WBEWELL's ct
teniion than any ether subject, and his enthusiasm
in the prosecution Of these studies hiss scarcely
been checked By the distraeting and eagrossing
pursuits Of 8 laborious profession. From the wide
range Of learning and knowledge through which
his daily occupation leads him, be always returns
to the society Of nature and the study Of her works
with increased fondness and zeal. We have then.
the production Of 3 great mind engaged upon its
faYorite subject, and the result IS me sf the most
fascinating, fresh and instructive works which We
have read for many years. We, cannot give our
readers better idea Of the PLAN compass and
style Of this work than BY giving them an extract
from the introduction;
'sH Is nay purpose to write The history Of the
most important Of the Physical Sciences, from the
earliest to the most recent periods. I shall thus
have to trace some Of the most remarkable branches
Of human knowledge, from their first germ to their
gro 18th into vast aud varied ssssmblage Of undis
pu:ed truths.
Such task, if ftiy executed, must have we'll
founded interest for all those who lock at the exist
ing condition Of human knowledge with cOmplaeen
CIV and aduirati0n The present generation finds
itself the heir OF vast patrimoDy Of science; and
It must needs concern US to know the steps BY which
these possession Rere acquired, and the documents
by which they are secured to and our heirs for
ever. Our species, from the time Of its creation,
has been travelling EDWARDS in pursuitof truth !;
and now that we have reached lofty and command
ing position, with the broad light Of day around
US. it must be grateful to look on the line Of our
vast progress-to review the journey begun in
early twilight amid primeval wilds for long time
continued with slow advance and obscure prospects;
and gradually, and, in later days, followed along
more open and Hghtsome paths, in wide and fer
tile region The historian of science from early pc
RODS TO the present times, psy hope for favor on
the score of the mere subject Of his narrative and
in virtue Of the curiosity which the men of the
present day may naturally feel respecting the
events and persons Of his story.
''But such survey may possess also an interest
of another kind it may be instructive as well as
agreeable tmay bring before the reader the present
form and extent the future hopes and prospects of
science, as well as its past progress. The eminenoe
on which We stand may enable US to see the land of
promise, as well as the wilderness through which
we have passed The examination Of the steps by
which our ancestors acquired our intellectual es-
tate, may make US acquainted with our expectations,
as well as our POSSESSIONS may not ouly remind
US of what we have, but may teach US how to in
crease AMI improve our store"