13 JUNE 1863, Page 23

Experimental Essays. By Charles Tomlinson. (Virtue and Co.)— The aim

of this small volume appears to be to impress upon the scien- tific student the importance of the services which may be rendered to science, by the diligent investigation of the properties of many of the commonest objects, without the aid of any expensive or recondite appa- ratus. The object which Mr. Tomlinson selects for examination is a piece of camphor, and the properties to which ho directs his attention are the motion of camphor on the surface of water, and its tendency to crystallize towards the light. He has added an able and interesting paper on the " History of the Theory of Dew," in which he shows that Dr. Wells was under some obligation to Professor Patrick Wilson, who had previously investigated the subject.