The book is one of uncommon interest, and discusses many topics beside the glaciers, though nothing that is not in some way related to them.  Mr. Tyndall does justice to former investigators,—­especially to M. Rendu, who, though imperfectly supplied with demonstrated facts, theorized the phenomena with the happiest inspiration,—­and to Agassiz, of whose important observations, establishing for the first time the fact of more rapid motion in the middle of the glacier, Professor Forbes had appropriated the credit.  The style is remarkably agreeable, in description vivid, and in its scientific parts clear.  Indeed, we do not know whether we have enjoyed the narrative or the science the most.  Professor Tyndall has the uncommon gift of being able to write science so that the unscientific can understand it, without descending to the low level of science made easy.  The Royal Institution may well congratulate itself on having in him a man every way qualified to succeed Faraday, whenever (and may it be long first!) his chair is vacant.

* * * * *

ART.

MR. JARVES’S COLLECTION.

It seems an odd turn in the kaleidoscope of Fortune that associates a Prime Minister of the Sandwich Islands—­where the only pictorial Art is a kind of illumination laboriously executed by the natives on each other’s skins, thus forming a free peripatetic gallery—­with a collection of pictures by early Italian masters.  It is certainly a striking illustration of American multifariousness.  From the dawning civilization of Hawaii Mr. Jarves withdraws to Italy, where culture has passed far beyond its noon, and finds himself equally at home in both.  From Italy he has returned to America with by far the most important contribution to historical Art that has ever reached us.  It is not easy to overestimate its value, whether intrinsically, or as an aid to intelligent and refining study.  We can hardly expect, it is true, ever to form such collections of Art in this country as would save our students the necessity of visiting Europe.  This, indeed, would be hardly desirable; since a great deal of the refining and enlightening influence of foreign travel and observation is not received directly from the special objects that may have drawn us abroad, but incidentally and unexpectedly, by being brought into contact with strange systems of government and new forms of thought.  But what we might have is such a collection as would enable those of us who cannot travel to enjoy some of the highest aesthetic advantages of travel, and would send our students to the galleries of the Old World already in a condition to appreciate and profit by them.  Mr. Jarves’s pictures afford the opportunity for an excellent beginning in such an undertaking.