THE MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE, AND SCHOOL OF ARTS: INTENDED TO ILLUSTRATE THE MOST USEFUL, NOVEL AND INTERESTING PARTS PREFACE. THE termination of a second volume calls from us a few remarks, relative both to the past and the future. The time during which it has been in the course of publication, (from April, 1840, to April, 1841,) has been one rich in scientific discoveries. Were there no others than those relative to the different departments of Electricity, it would stamp a renown upon the year that is past. But there are very numerous others, recorded in the following pages, worthy of the utmost attention, and which must eventually lead to results of the utmost value to mankind. All those discoveries we have taken especial care to record, at as early a period as it has been possible to obtain a full and correct account of them; and if we have appeared to neglect some subjects, which other periodicals have included in their current reports, it is because they are not so valuable as, at first sight, they may appear; (such, for example, as Autogenous Soldering,) or because the accounts known or given are too obscure to be intelligible, (such as Acrography;) or it is possible, that with the most careful search we may, by chance, have overlooked them. A few subjects have been delayed, only that we may introduce them with better effect in continued articles. Of this description are the numerous Electro-Magnetic Engines, and which will meet with our immediate attention. With the advantage even of a prolific scientific year, yet the whole learned world does not make sufficient discoveries to fill even a little work like this; therefore we have had recourse to other matter, and explained such processes of art, and such phenomena of nature, as are useful to be known, perfecting each part with that miscellaneous and scientific information, which we have considered to be least known. Hence have arisen those extensive papers on Varnishing, the Analysis of Minerals, Botany, Galvanism and Electricity, Lithography, and numerous others. The Queries which we have answered have been less than in the last volume, but the Correspondents we have attended to, have been incalculably more numerous; and if we |