Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/542

5 oS] CHE The principal dirnculry appears to arise from the unsettled state of chemical nomenclature, which has lately been, in a great measure, removed by the praise-worthy la- bours of Dr. Pearson, Dr. Dick- son, and Mr. Parkinson; vet, whatever merit these introductory works may posssess, there is still wanted a concise, perspicuous, and systematic analysis of the science of chemistry, such as could be read, with satisfaction, by every person possessed of ordinary talents. Gir- tanner and Scherer, in Ger- many, have attempted such works ; but their manuals abound in too abstract propositions, and are writ- ten in a dogmatical rather than narrative style, that may tend to . entertain the reader, and imper- ceptibly lead from the more simple to connected propositions. Although it be perfectly consist- ent with scientific arrangement, to begin the explanation of a system with general truths, and then de- scend to particulars ; yet we in- cline to think, that the young stu- dent, as well as readers in general, would acquire a more correct idea of a subject, by commencing the s of principles with such ii- lur-trations, as would render every term, involved in the first defini- tion, perfectly clear and familiar to their understanding. Thus, the immortal Bacon was peculiarly happy in defining simple ideas, be- fore he proceeded to reduce them under general heads, and draw the inference, or exhibit the result, by the most unequivocal process of induction. Instead, however, of following the footsteps of this mighty genius, most of our modern physical writers, either begin the fBiolrsis of the subject with gene- ral maxims ; or they dissect and CHE divide the whole into dislincl pan!;, and fatigue the reader with endless repetition, without affording him a view of the synthesis, or conjunc- ture of members (if that expression be allowed), which alone could enable him to connect the several causes and effects, of which the whole is composed. In justice, however, to Lavoisier, the foun- der of the new system, we shall observe, that his " Elements of Chemisti-y " possess, in this re- spect, uncommon merit; though he dwells too long upon the ra- tionale, without exemplifying the principles, in such a manner as to impress the mind with sensible objects, which alone can perma- nently fix the idea, and connect every link of the proposition. We claim the indulgence of our read- ers, for this involuntary digression ; and though we cannot, in truth, exclusively recommend any late - work, published in the form of a po-pia'ar, or familiar introduction to chemistry, vet we shall mention several valuable treatises, that have successively appeared, and are en- tit! d to attention. The different translations from the French of Lavoisier, Chaptal, and Foir- croy, and especially that of the by Mr. John Thomson, de- serves to be read, and diligently studied ; that from the German of Professor Gren, is likewise a work of merit, for professional readers ; and among the original English works, we shall point out Dr. Higgins's " View of the Phlogistic and Antiphlogistic Theories" (8vo. 7s.) i Mr. Nicholson's " First Principles of Chemistry (Svo. Ss. (3d.) j and Dr. Garnett's " Out- lines of Lectures of Chemistry (8vo. 4s.) ; besides these, there are se- veral smaller tracts, among which