JOHN TYNDALL, LL. D., F. R. S., AUTHOR OF "HEAT AS MODE OF MOTION," "LECTURES ON SOUND," ETC., ETC. 161406 NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 549 & 551 BROADWAY. 1871. PREFACE. MY MOTIVE in writing these papers was mainly that which prompted the publication of my Royal Institution lectures; a desire, namely, to extend sympathy for science beyond the limits of the scientific public. The fulfilment of this desire has caused a temporary and sometimes reluctant deflection of thought from the line of original research. But considering the result aimed at, and in part I trust achieved, I do not regret the price paid for it. I have carefully looked over all the articles here printed, added a little, omitted a little-in fact, tried as far as my time permitted to render the work presentable. Most of the essays are of a purely scientific character, and from those which are not, I have endeavored, without veiling my convictions, to exclude every word that could cause needless irritation. From America the impulse came which induced me to gather these "Fragments" together, and to my friends in the United States I dedicate them. JOHN TYNDALL. ATHENÆUM CLUB: March, 1871. |