THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE, MUSEUM, Register, Journal, of men. "He that would be quiet, let him repair to Philosophy-a study that has credit with all sorts VIVERS London: PUBLISHED BY M. SALMON, MECHANICS' MAGAZINE OFFICE, WINE-OFFICE-COURT, (BETWEEN 145 AND 146) FLEET STREET. M.DCCC.XXXI. PREFACE ΤΟ THE FIFTEENTH VOLUME. THE salutary tendency of the arts and sciences is happily no longer a matter of dispute; but if it were, the simple fact, that during a time of so much political agitation and excitement as the present, the different journals through which the votaries of science are in the habit of making their discoveries and speculations known to the world, should have manifest an increase, instead of any falling off, in fertility and vigour-ought of itself to confound all scepticism on the point. We consider this to be universally true of the scientific portion of the periodical press of 1831; and know it to be so, in an eminent degree, with respect to the journal under our immediate superintendence. At no stage of our career-now one of considerable duration-have the spontaneous contributions to our pages been more numerous, or of greater value, than during the period of trouble embraced by our present volume; a fact the more remarkable, that the majority of the correspondents of the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE are, as usual, to be found in the busier walks of life, where a concern for private as well as public affairs, might be supposed to operate most injuriously, to the peaceful pursuits of philosophy. When society is in that state, that men can turn with calmness of temper, from a question of "What will the Lords do?" to inquire "What is the best means of preventing explosions?" it is a certain proof that knowledge has gone far to achieve one 302177 |