19 SEPTEMBER 1863, Page 23

A Dictionary of Chemistry. Part HI. By H. Watts. (Longman

and Co.) —We expressed a very favourable opinion of this work when the first part was published (supra, p. 2015), from which we see as yet no reason to depart. It was originally intended to complete the work in sixteen parts. This, however, has proved impossible, and it has therefore, been determined to extend it from 8,000 to 4,000 pages, to be completed in twenty-one parts. The necessity of this will be apparent when we say that the last article in this number is on Cyanates—one-third of the work is issued, and the first three letters of the alphabet are not ex- hausted. The mistake is one to which all works of this character are liable. They are commenced on too large a scale, and then must be either unduly curtailed towards the end, or made far more expensive than the original subscribers bargained for. Will oven twenty-one parts give Mr. Watts sufficient space? Yet, in this instance, curtail- ment would be a real loss to chemical students.