University of Virginia Library

“IT IS NOT EASY TO DEVISE A CURE FOR SUCH A STATE OF THINGS (THE DECIINING
TASTE FOR SCIENCE;) BUT THE MOST OBVIOUS REMEDY IS TO PROVIDE
THE EDUCATED CLASSES WITH A SERIES OF WORKS ON POPULAR AND PRACTICAL
SCIENCE, FREED FROM MATHEMATICAL SYMBOLS AND TECHNICAL TERMS,
WRITTEN IN SIMPLE AND PERSPICUOUS LANGUAGE, AND ILLUSTRATED BY FACTS
AND EXPERIMENTS, WHICH ARE LEVEL TO THE CAPACITY OF ORBINARY MINDS.”

“Without disparaging any other of the many interesting and instructive volumes
issued in the form of cabinet and family libraries, it is, perhaps, not too
much to place at the head of the list, for extent and variety of condensed information,
Mr. Herchel's discourse of Natural Philosophy in Dr. Larduer's Cyclopædia.”

“The finest work of philosophical genius which this age has seen.”

“By far the most delightful book to which the existing competition between
literary rivals of great talent and enterprise has given rise.”

“Mr. Herschel's delightful volume. * * * We find scattered through the
work instances of vivid and happy illustration, where the fancy is usefully called
into action, so as sometimes to remind us of the splendid pictures which crowd
upon us in the style of Bacon.”

“It is the most exciting volume of the kind we ever met with.”

“One of the most instructive and delightful books we have ever perused.”

“A work which countains an uncommon amount of useful information, exhibited
in a plain and very intelligible form.”

“This volume has been lately published in England, as a part of Dr. Lardner's
Cabinet Cyclopædia, and has received the unsolicited approbation of the most
eminent men of science, and the most discriminating Journals and reviews, in
the British metropolis.—It is written in a popular and intelligible style, entirely
free from mathematical symbols, and disencumbered as far as possible of technical
phrases.”

“Admirable in development and clear in principles, and especially felicitous in
illustration from familiar subjects.”

“It fully sustairs the favorable opinion we have already expressed as to this
valuable compendium of modern science.”

“Dr. Lardner has made a good use of his acquaintance with the familiar facts
which illustrate the principles of science.”

“It is written with a full knowledge of the subject, and in a popular style,
abounding in practical illustrations of the abstruse operations of these important
sciences.”

“In the first volume of Sir James Mackintosh's History of England, we
find enough to warrant the anticipations of the public, that a calm and luminous
philosophy will diffuse itself over the long narrative of our British History.”

“In this volume Sir James Mackintosh fully developes those great powers,
for the possession of which the public have long given him credit. The result
is the ablest commentary that has yet appeared in our language upon some
of the most important circumstances of English History.”

“Worthy in the method, style, and reflections, of the author's high reputation.
We were particularly pleased with his high vein of philosophical sentiment,
and his occasional survey of contemporary annals.”

“If talents of the highest order, long experience in politics, and years of
application to the study of history and the collection of information, can command
superiority in a historian, Sir James Machintosh may, without reading
this work, be said to have produced the best history of this country. A perusal
of the work will prove that those who anticipated a superior production.
have not reckoned in vain on the high qualifications of the author.”

“It is but justice to Mr. Grattan to say that he has executed his laborious
task with much induatry and proportionate effect. Undisfigured by pompous
nothingness, and without any of the affectation of philosophical profundity,
his style is simple, light, and fresh—perspicuous, smooth, and harmonious.”

“Never did work appear at a more fortunate period. The volume before us
is a compressed but clear and impartial narrative.”

“His history of France is worthy to figure with the works of his associates,
the best of their day, Scott and Mackintosh.”

“For such a task Mr. Crowe is eminently qualified. At a glance, as it were,
his eye takes in the theatre of centuries. His style is neat, clear, and pithy;
and his power of condensation enables him to say much, and effectively. In a
few words, to present a distinct and perfect picture in a narrowly circumscribed
space.”

“The History of Scotland by Sir Walter Scott, we do not hesitate to declare,
will be, if possible, more extensively read, than the most popular work
of fiction, by the same prolific author, and for this obvious reason: it combines
much of the brilliant coloring of the Ivanhoe pictures of by-gone manners,
and all the graceful facility of style and picturesqueness of description
of his other charming romances, with a minute fidelity to the facts of history,
and a searching scrutiny into their authenticity and relative value, which
might put to the blush Mr. Hume and other professed historians. Such is the
magic charm of Sir Walter Scott's pen, it has only to touch the simplest incident
of every-day life, and it starts up invested with all the interest of a scene
of romance; and yet such is his fidelity to the text of nature, that the knights
and serfs, and collared fools with whom his inventive genius has peopled so
many volumes, are regarded by us as not mere creations of fancy, but as real
flesh and blood existences, with all the virtues, feelings and errors of common
place humanity.”

“It contains abundant information in every department of this interesting
branch of human industry—in the history, culture, and manufacture of silk.”

“There is a great deal of curious information in this little volume.”

“The excellencies, defects, and fortunes of the governments of the Italian
commonwealths, form a body of the most valuable materials for political philosophy.
It is time that they should be accessible to the American people, as
they are about to be rendered in Sismondi's masterly abridgment. He has done
for his large work, what Irving accomplished so well for his Life of Columbus.”

“In the design and execution of the work, the author has displayed considerable
judgment and skill, and has so disposed of his valuable materials as to render
the book attractive and instructive to the general class of readers.”

“The author has, by a popular treatment, made it one of the most interesting
books that has been issued of this series. There are, we believe, few of the
useful arts less generally understood than those of porcelain and glass making.
These are completely illustrated by Dr. Lardner, and the various processes of
forming differently fashioned utensils, are fully described.”

“A very delightful volume, and on a subject likely to increase in interest
as it proceeds. * * * We cordially commend the work both for its design and
execution.”

“A general History of the Spanish and Portuguese Peninsula, is a great desideratum
in our language, and we are glad to see it begun under such favorable
suspices. We have seldom met with a narrative which fixes attention more
steadily, and hears the reader's mind along more pleasantly.”
“In the volumes before us, there is unquestionable evidence of capacity for
the task, and research in the execution.”

“Of course this work can be but an abridgment; but we know not where so
much ability has been shown in condensation. It is unequalled, and likely
long to remain so. * * We were convinced, on the publication of the first volume,
that it was no common compilation, manufactured to order; we were prepared
to announce it as a very valuable addition to our literature. * * * Our
last words must be, heartily to recommend it to our readers.”

“Like the preceding historical numbers of this valuable publication, it
abounds with interesting details, illustrative of the habits, character, and political
complexion of the people and country it describes; and affords, in the small
space of one volume, a digest of all the important facts which, in more elaborate
histories, occupy five times the space.”

“This English translation, which has been very faithfully rendered, is
still more valuable than the original work, as upon all points where any
obliquity from other published recitals occars, the translator has given several
accounts, and thus, in the form of notes, we are presented with the
statements obtained from Napoleon's own dictation at St. Helena, from the
Memoirs of the Duke of Rovigo, of General Rapp, of Constant, from the
writings of the Marquis of Londonderry, &c.”

“The peculiar advantages of position in regard to his present subject,
solely enjoyed by M. de Bourrienne, his literary accomplishments and
moral qualifications, have already obtained for these memoirs the first rank
in contemporary and authentic history. In France, where they had been
for years expected with anxiety, and where, since the revolution, no work
connected with that period or its consequent events has created so great a
sensation, the volumes of Bourrienne have, from the first, been accepted
as the only trustworthy exhibition of the private life and political principles
of Napoleon.
“We know from the best political authority now living in England, that
the writer's accounts are perfectly corroboruted by facts.”

“The only authentic Life of Napoleon extant.”

“This splendid publication that literally leaves nothing to be desired.

“These volumes may be read with all the interest of a romance.”

“No person who is desirous rightly to appreciate the character of Bonaparte,
will neglect the perusal of this work; whoever wishes to know, not
merely the General or the Emperor, but what the man really was, will
find him well pictured here.”

“The completest personal recollections of Napolcon that have appeared.”

“As a part of the history of the most extraordinary man, and the most
extraordinary times that ever invited elucidation, these memoirs must continue
to the latest ages to be records of invaluable interest.”

“The most interesting of the whole series of expeditions to the North
Pole.”

“This expedition will be for ever memorable as one which has added
immensely to our knowledge of this carth that we inhabit.”

“Captain Beechey's work is a lasting monument of his own abilities,
and an honor to his country.

“This, in our humble opinion, is the best offspring of the pen of an author
who in philosophical spirit, knowledge and reflection, richness of
moral sentiment, and elegance of style, has altogether no superior—perhaps
no equal—among his contemporaries. Some time ago we made copious
extracts from this beautiful work. We could not recommend the
whole too earnestly.”