TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been placed at the end of the book.
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
Some minor changes to the text are noted at the [end of the book.] These are indicated by a dotted gray underline.
BRIDGEWATER TREATISES.
CAREY, LEA & BLANCHARD
HAVE PUBLISHED,
ASTRONOMY AND GENERAL PHYSICS, considered with reference to Natural Theology, by the Rev. William Whewell, M. A., Fellow and Tutor of Trinity College, Cambridge; being the Third Part of the Bridgewater Treatises on the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God, as manifested in the Creation.
The series of Treatises, of which the present is one, is published under the following circumstances:—
The Right Honourable and Rev. Francis Henry, Earl of Bridgewater, died in the month of February, 1825; he directed certain trustees therein named, to invest in the public funds, the sum of eight thousand pounds sterling; this sum, with the accruing dividends thereon, to be held at the disposal of the President, for the time being, of the Royal Society of London, to be paid to the person or persons nominated by him. The Testator farther directed, that the person or persons selected by the said President, should be appointed to write, print and publish one thousand copies of a work, on the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God, as manifested in the Creation; illustrating such work, by all reasonable arguments, as, for instance, the variety and formation of God’s creatures in the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Kingdoms; the effect of digestion, and, thereby, of conversion; the construction of the hand of man, and an infinite variety of other arguments; as also by discoveries, ancient and modern, in arts, sciences, and the whole extent of literature.
He desired, moreover, that the profits arising from the sale of the works so published, should be paid to the authors of the works.
The late President of the Royal Society, Davies Gilbert, Esq., requested the assistance of his Grace, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and of the Bishop of London, in determining upon the best mode of carrying into effect, the intentions of the Testator. Acting with their advice, and with the concurrence of a nobleman immediately connected with the deceased, Mr. Davies Gilbert appointed the following eight gentlemen to write separate Treatises in the different branches of the subjects here stated:—
I. The Adaptation of External Nature to the Moral and Intellectual Constitution of Man, by the Rev. Thomas Chalmers, D. D., Professor of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh.
II. The Adaptation of External Nature to the Physical Condition of Man, by John Kidd, M. D., F. R. S., Regius Professor of Medicine in the University of Oxford.
III. Astronomy and General Physics, considered with reference to Natural Theology, by the Rev. William Whewell, M. A., F. R. S., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
IV. The Hand: its Mechanism and Vital Endowments as evincing Design, by Sir Charles Bell, K. H., F. R. S.
V. Animal and Vegetable Physiology, by Peter Mark Roget, M. D., Fellow of and Secretary to the Royal Society.
VI. Geology and Mineralogy, by the Rev. William Buckland, D. D., F. R. S., Canon of Christ Church, and Professor of Geology in the University of Oxford.
VII. The History, Habits, and Instincts of Animals, by the Rev. William Kirby, M. A., F. R. S.
VIII. Chemistry, Meteorology, and the Function of Digestion, by William Prout, M. D., F. R. S.
The whole of these Treatises are nearly finished, and will be put to press as soon as received, and published in a cheap and handsome form.
THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY; containing the Doctrines, Duties, Admonitions, and Consolations of the Christian Religion, by John Burns, M. D., F. R. S. From the fourth London edition. In the press.
CONVERSATIONS WITH LORD BYRON ON THE SUBJECT OF RELIGION. By J. Kennedy, M. D. 12mo.
GLEANINGS IN NATURAL HISTORY, WITH LOCAL RECOLLECTIONS. By Edward Jesse, Esq. To which are added, Maxims and Hints for Anglers. From the second London edition, in one volume, being a Companion to the Journal of a Naturalist.
We have occasionally selected a paragraph from a very pretty volume, by Mr. Jesse, published under the above title. The author lives in the neighbourhood of Kew, and like Mr. White of Selborne,—who made a small village of Hampshire one of the most interesting spots to the lover of nature, by his ample descriptions of the natural objects which he saw around him,—Mr. Jesse has rendered his walks a vehicle for much instruction and amusement to himself and to others. He principally confines his attention to zoology—the most generally attractive of the departments of natural history; and he looks upon the animal world with so much practical wisdom, being disposed to be happy himself, and to see every creature around him happy, that there are few persons who will not read his slight sketches with improvement to their hearts and understandings.—Penny Magazine.
THE MECHANISM OF THE HEAVENS. By Mrs. Somerville. In 18mo.
Is it asking too much of Mrs. Somerville to express a hope that she will allow this beautiful preliminary Dissertation to be printed separately for the delight and instruction of thousands of readers, young and old, who cannot understand, or are too indolent to apply themselves to the more elaborate parts of the work? If she will do this, we hereby promise to exert our best endeavours to make its merits known.—Literary Gazette.
SALMONIA; OR, DAYS OF FLY FISHING. By Sir H. Davy.
We are surprised in meeting with an American reprint of this delightful volume, that a work so universally popular has not been before republished in this country.—N. Y. American.
One of the most delightful labours of leisure ever seen; not a few of the most beautiful phenomena of nature are here lucidly explained.—Gent. Magazine.
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. By the late Rev. Gilbert White, A. M., Fellow of the Oriel College, Oxford; with additions by Sir William Jardine, Bart. F. R. S., E. F. L. S., M. W. S., author of “Illustrations of Ornithology.”
White’s History of Selborne, the most fascinating piece of rural writing and sound English philosophy that has ever issued from the press.—Athenæum.
JOURNAL OF A NATURALIST. With Plates.
——Plants, trees, and stones we note;
Birds, insects, beasts and rural things.
We again most strongly recommend this little unpretending volume to the attention of every lover of nature, and more particularly of our country readers. It will induce them, we are sure, to examine more closely than they have been accustomed to do, into the objects of animated nature, and such examination will prove one of the most innocent, and the most satisfactory sources of gratification and amusement. It is a book that ought to find its way into every rural drawing-room in the kingdom, and one that may safely be placed in every lady’s boudoir, be her rank and station in life what they may.—Quart. Review, No. LXXVIII.
This is a most delightful book on the most delightful of all studies. We are acquainted with no previous work which bears any resemblance to this, except “White’s History of Selborne,” the most fascinating piece of rural writing and sound English philosophy that ever issued from the press.—Athenæum.
THE FAMILY CABINET ATLAS, constructed upon an original plan: being a Companion to the Encyclopædia Americana, Cabinet Cyclopædia, Family Library, Cabinet Library, &c.
[This Atlas comprises, in a volume of the Family Library size, nearly one hundred Maps and Tables, which present equal to fifty thousand names of places; a body of information three times as extensive as that supplied by the generality of Quarto Atlases.]
This beautiful and most useful little volume, says the Literary Gazette, is a perfect picture of elegance, containing a vast sum of geographical information. A more instructive little present, or a gift better calculated to be long preserved and often referred to, could not be offered to favoured youth of either sex. Its cheapness, we must add, is another recommendation; for, although this elegant publication contains one hundred beautiful engravings, it is issued at a price that can be no obstacle to its being procured by every parent and friend to youth.
This Atlas far surpasses any thing of the kind which we have seen, and is made to suit the popular libraries which Dr. Lardner and Mr. Murray are now sending into every family in the empire.—Monthly Review.
Its very ingenious method of arrangement secures to the geographical student the information for which hitherto he has been obliged to resort to works of the largest dimensions.—Athenæum.
THE RECTORY OF VALEHEAD. By the Rev. Robert Wilson Evans, M. A.
Universally and cordially do we recommend this delightful volume. Impressed with the genuine spirit of Christianity; a diary, as it were, of the feelings, hopes, and sorrows of a family,—it comes home to all, either in sympathy or example. It is a beautiful picture of a religious household, influencing to excellence all within its sphere. We believe no person could read this work, and not be better for its pious touching lessons.—Literary Gaz.
We fearlessly pronounce this delightful little volume to be not only one of the most faultless, but every way valuable works it has ever fallen to our lot to recommend to public perusal.—Stamford Herald.
The Rectory of Valehead is a beautiful model of domestic life in the Christian home of a well-regulated family, and combines literary amusement with the most refined and intellectual improvement.—Scotsman.
A GENERAL VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY, chiefly during the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. By Sir James Mackintosh, M. P. In 8vo.
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 the beautiful work. We could not recommend the whole too earnestly.—National Gazette.
THE BOOK OF THE SEASONS; or the Calendar of Nature. By William Howitt. In one volume, 12mo.
THE BRIDGEWATER TREATISES
ON THE POWER, WISDOM, AND GOODNESS OF GOD
AS MANIFESTED IN THE CREATION.
TREATISE III.
ON ASTRONOMY AND GENERAL PHYSICS.
BY THE REV. W. WHEWELL.
ET HÆC DE DEO, DE QUO UTIQUE EX PHÆNOMENIS DISSERERE AD PHILOSOPHIAM NATURALEM PERTINET.
NEWTON, CONCLUSION OF THE PRINCIPIA.
ASTRONOMY AND GENERAL PHYSICS
CONSIDERED WITH REFERENCE TO
NATURAL THEOLOGY.
BY THE
REV. WILLIAM WHEWELL, M. A.
FELLOW AND TUTOR OF TRINITY COLLEGE,
CAMBRIDGE.
Philadelphia:
CAREY, LEA & BLANCHARD,
CHESTNUT STREET.
1833.