Such books as Poole's Index, Watt's and Brunet's Bibliographies, and the New American Indexes, prepared with such care by the Librarians' Association, are at hand in almost all the Public Libraries; and the librarians will always be glad to encourage intelligent readers in the use of them.

I should be sorry, in closing the series, not to bear my testimony to the value of the Public Library system, still so new to us, in raising the standard of thought and education. For thirty years I have had more or less to do with classes of intelligent young people who have met for study. I can say, therefore, that the habit of thought and the habit of work of such young people now is different from what it was thirty years ago. Of course it ought to be. You can say to a young learner now, "This book says thus and so, but you must learn for yourself whether this author is prejudiced or ill-informed, or not."

You can send him to the proper authorities. On almost any detail in general history, if he live near one of the metropolitan libraries, you can say to him, "If you choose to study a fortnight on this thing, you will very likely know more about it than does any person in the world." It is encouraging to young people to know that they can thus take literature and history at first hand. It pleases them to know that "the book" is not absolute. With such resources that has resulted which such far-seeing men as Edward Everett and George Ticknor and Charles Coffin Jewett hoped for,—the growth, namely, of a race of students who do not take anything on trust. As Professor Agassiz was forever driving up his pupils to habits of original observation in natural history, the Public Library provokes and allures young students to like courage in original research in matters of history and literature.

EDWARD E. HALE.

Roxbury, April 1, 1885.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
I.Introduction[9]
II.Archimedes[20]
III.Friar Bacon[36]
Of the Parents and Birth of Fryer Bacon, and how he addicted himself to Learning, [39]. How Fryer Bacon made a Brazen Head to speak, by the which he would have walled England about with Brass, [41]. How Fryer Bacon by his Art took a Town, when the King had lain before it three Months, without doing it any Hurt, [45]. How Fryer Bacon burnt his Books of Magic and gave himself to the Study of Divinity only; and how he turned Anchorite, [49]. How Virgilius was set to School, [53]. Howe the Emperor asked Counsel of Virgilius, how the Night Runners and Ill Doers might be rid-out of the Streets, [55]. How Virgilius made a Lamp that at all Times burned, [56].
IV.Benvenuto Cellini[58]
Life of Benvenuto Cellini, [59]. Benvenuto's Autobiography, [60].
V.Bernard Palissy[82]
Bernard Palissy the Potter, [83].
VI.Benjamin Franklin[97]
Franklin's Method of Growing Better, [100]. Musical Glasses, [112].
VII.Theorists of the Eighteenth Century[119]
Richard Lovell Edgeworth, [119]. Edgeworth's Telegraph, [124]. Mr. Edgeworth's Telegraph in Ireland, [127]. Mr. Edgeworth's Machine, [136]. More of Mr. Edgeworth's Fancies, [140]. Jack the Darter, [142]. A One-wheeled Chaise, [144].
VIII.James Watt[146]
The Newcomen Engine, [150]. James Watt and the Steam-engine, [153]. The Separate Condenser, [161]. Completing the Invention, [164]. Watt makes his Model, [167].
IX.Robert Fulton[172]
X.George Stephenson and the Locomotive[193]
George Stephenson, [194].
XI.Eli Whitney[219]
Eli Whitney, [222].
XII.James Nasmyth[237]
The Steam-hammer, [237]. James Nasmyth, [239].
XIII.Sir Henry Bessemer[259]
The Age of Steel, [259]. Bessemer's Family, [261]. Henry Bessemer, [264]. Stamped Paper, [265]. Gold Paint, [270]. Bessemer Steel, [273].
XIV.The Last Meeting[284]
Goodyear, [284].