Recreations in Astronomy, with Directions for Practical Experiments and Telescopic Work

With One Hundred and Tccelve Engravings, aad five Zaps of the bqfars. The grezt reputation which the author of this work has merited and enjoys, both in this county and in Europe, is a sufficient guarantee of its excellence. He has dwelt especially upon those topics which hare just now a popular and philosophic interest, carefully emploping such language and such simple explanations as will be intelligible without laborious study. Technical terms have as much as possible been avoided. Such as were employed of necessity, and many that occur elsewhere, have been fully explained in a copious glossary at the end of the book. With its abundant aid, the reader cannot fail to derive both pleasure and entertainment from the study of what is the most ancient as well as the most elerating and inspiring of all the natural sciences. Professor Sewcomb, t h l h i i j - u qper, e serves his well-known character as a writer Gho, in treating of scientific subjects, fully understands the art of bringing them within the range of popular comprehension. Although his book is a valuable addition to scientific literature, it is fully calculated to hold the attention of the general reader.-N. Y Times. The problem of adapting the facts and principles of a most intricate science to the understanding of the ordinary reader has been earnestly undertaken and successfully solved in this work. The entire volume bespeaks the well-known ability of its author, and furnishes a new title to his world-wide reputation.-Boston Tramcript. 2 Newcom bs Popular Astronomy. - --- Professor Xewcomb carefully avoids the tempt. ation held out to him by many parts of the subject to write for effect he keeps always faithfully to hispurpose, setting forth, with respect to every subject discussed, the history of the investigations made, the positive, certain results attained, and the conjectures which astronomers have founded upon these results, together with the reasoning on which each conjecture rests and the objections that exist to its acceptance. Heis, in a word, singularly conscientious and perfectly frank but the subject itself is so full of wonders that even when treated in this calm, scientific spirit, its discussion is entrand cingly interesting and Professor ewcombs work, written as it is in a perfectly clear, simple, and direct style, 2.. likely, we think, to become more - l than ordinarily popular.-nf. 1 Eueniny Posll The book has the great merit of a simplicity that never wearies the readers attention. It presents the newest as well as the old discoveries, and is free from the errors which mar most of the treatises on astronomy that are designed for non-professional use. Ordinary readers sill appreciate ciate the circun stanceth at no mathematical formulas are employed. In each division of the work t. he history of discovery is made to subserve the purpose of explanation. Step by step the reader is led toward the theories of Copernicus, Kepler, and Kewton, and is shown why and how their hypotheses best explained the facts of observation, which have been aIready detailed. A great advantage is thereby gained over ordinary treatises of astronomy, which present the recent knowledge first, and either give the facts unsupported, or press their acceptance by means of the stern logic of geometry. I11 Professor Kerncombs work the great truths grow slowly, and can be measured as they grow.-N. X Tribune. Theauthor is a master of all the theories and lore of his beloved science, and he has at command the unrivalled instruments of the Unitcd States Xaval Observatory at Washington. He is an unwearied investigator and professional enthusiast in the best sense of the word, and writes an English which all people can understand. Parade and pedantry are wholly absent from this work.-N. Y. Journal of Commerce...