New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


rLr,Nryrs OF ouATTRNIoNs. BY A. g. Hardy; o ph'
~ oess,,r OF Mathematics, Dartmouth Oohoo0'
syo. pp. 800 Boston CHM Heath ~ TO-
The Ouaternon calculus originated ana eia'o-
rated by SIR William Rowan Hamilton. is an lhstlu
ment of mathematical research at once so powerful
flexible and elegant. sweeping IN us rang. AZ" o'
infinitely accurate that It's discovery an" WV
ment las been rightly estimated as one u '"o
cr,wniup achievements Of the century Inc 'i'ho 10
approaching when our colleges VIII i''S'S' "''" 10
s,nIv AZ N, essential part of the intellectual equip
- IS r,,r, u,en who aspire to be classified
60, tho 4. liheraly educa led" The appearance
of This work is therefore timely, for 1t furnishes
inst the elementary instruction on the SUBJECT
which is needed. The more completes and elaborate
t,eatses are too formidable for yUung BEGINNERS
while the scope of the present work simply embraces
an explanation of the fundamental principles oil the
Algebra OF Quat rniOns and aims u iamiliarHe 'he
pupil with ITS notation and methods. Tie Work
deals solely with immediate essentials. but "a mas
terry of its pages will lay the foundation TOT laH
working knowledge of this simple yet massive
calculus" Persons of no very considerable maihe-
NAUTICAL attachments viii find that Professor
Uardy's book can be read with ease. Even II tDey
do not hope TO acquire such a familiar W'th he
evmbolic language aud sucI an easy command OF
the newell algebTaic transformations emP'oyed an 70
render the calculus of much practical value to them
the ,lImpses they catch Of the mutiiorm relations
expressed in its ccmpendous statements. me
facility and naturalness with which laDoTlouslY
established theorems are to be evolved from tie
simplest equations, the new high; thrown upon Oh
scure questions in mathematical philosophy, the
agreeable surprise as vistas open into realms oil
thought will all give that peculiar and tulay 1t not
he added that ennOblng pleasure which discoveries
in the most truthful and satisfying of sciences IN
varably afford.
Mr. William RastOn Balch has col ected, III
little pocket volume to which he gives the u'e u
"GarRelds Words" uIouglton, Mifln ~ Co..
few hnndrrd short and Festive passages from
tbe pubc aud private writings of our late fiesi-
dent The extracts grouped by topics. ana rel
erence to them s moreover facilitated by an IN eN
They are generally pithy: many Of them NAV he
classed as maxims; aud, although the ehtor has
been induced enlarge his store by the inclusion "I
some things which rigorous critic viii hardy con-
slider important enough for preservation apart from
their original context, the selections, as WHOLE
reject vivdy the sterling sense the lofty purpose,
and the purity and sweetness Of character which
the world has learned warmly TO admire in Gen
eral Garfield. he typographical arrangement OF
the book is copSpicuousy convenient.
A volume of "Battle-Maps and Charts of the
American Revolution" by Colonel Henry b. Car
y.
novel plan aud OF marked interest and value. 1t
contains carefully drawn topos -aphicai scale map
of every imp0ytant engagement fought during the
Revelation as we'll the successive theatres OF
operations and facing each map is an explanatory
text so arranged to show at glance the names OF
The principal aud subordinate commanders, both
American and British, the numbers engaged, the
casualties the plan of battle and the mo ements OF
eacn side II will be found a convenient and inval
Ia, Iin.sr l,a STA 64TI
of the United States aud it is moreover, especially
adapted 10 school use, since it contains under the
head of each battle a reference by page and section
10 q large number of the most popular manuals
studied ia Onr schools. The cearness OF both the
text and the maps deserves the warmest commenda-
ton.
Mr. Andrew James SymnCton, who has made n
nleasant repni alton as a bioUapher in modest
way has puhlished sketch of Wordsworth" with
seections from his writings, and Roberts DTntheIs
have issued an American edition OF 1t IN two small
neat volumes The work is constructed upon tie
plan which proved 50 acceptable IN the books on
Samuel Lover and William Cullen Bryant Icy the
same author. Tho principal incidents IN the lie "i
Wordsworth presented briefly and SIMPLY ana
interviewer with them. IN due chronological order,
are accounts Of the poets literary productions,
both prose and verse, with appropriate Illustrative
selections Making no pretence of original research
or deep critical insight, Mr.. Symngton Das pro-
duced readable and useful book winch Will serve
the purpose, fer which he declares 1t to have been
intended of leading people 20 study and enjoy the
great poet-teacher of the century"
The BioQraphv of David Cox" by William Fail
fCassell Peter Gapin * Co... is more entertaining
than one would exp ct a memorial OF an uneventinI
lite to be. Cox painted landscapes for few shll
ings which were ultimately sold for thousand
pounds; bat although fame came TO him before hrs
death fortune never did; his career offers no PIE
turesque vcisstudes; it was quiet, simple; not
unhappy because II vexed By few wants. Mr.
Hall himself an artist. COx's intimate friend.
and he gives us in this book pleasant picture Of
an amiable and cOntented man, whose happlcst
DAYS were spent in sketchng bits of Welsh scenery
The new two volume edition of THE POeucal
Works OF Oliver Wendell Holmes (Houghton, Milf
Gin & Coz, embracing the authors latest collected
writings as well earlier favorites Is ne OF
the most creilable specimens Of the publishers art
that we have seen this The plain blue cover
in thin boards the gilt top and halt-trmmed edges
suggest the old blue-and- gold edition, but marx
very decided improvement npon it. The type IS a
model Of elegance and Il the charming page could
have cen impressed upon somewhat more opag1e
paper without undue increase III the thickness the
book would be nearly perfect.
"Stories of Adventure Told by Adventures"
R0leIts Brothers. il the third Of the series VI books
in which Mr. Edward f. Hale proposes ito teach BOYS
and girls how to use themselves the treasures, now
at their hands in public Libraries" Mr. Hale X one
Of the most delightful of stOryteerS hut he can
didy saws that lac does not wish to present the tales
OF travellers mi sionaries, and explorers in such
form as 10 satisfy his young readers; his object is to
stimulate and direct their curiosity. STILL It'll hardly
necessary to say that he has made his sketches and