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A series of clear, accessible essays introduces a wide range of nineteenth-century scientific topics to general readers. Individual pieces survey atmospheric and astronomical phenomena (auroras, Earth’s magnetism, planetary transits), geophysical and meteorological events (volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, tidal waves, tornadoes), and oceanic subjects (Gulf Stream, deep-sea dredging). Other essays address practical science and technology — timekeeping, mining safety, engineering projects, photography, public-health issues — and occasional statistical or mathematical puzzles and sporting anecdotes. Each essay combines observational description, summaries of contemporary research, and plain-language explanation intended to inform and amuse.
In preparing this edition, only those passages which have been shown by recent researches to be erroneous have been removed. It has not been thought necessary, or even desirable, to modify the wording of Essays (by changes of tense or otherwise) in such a way that, as thus modified, the Essays might have appeared in 1884. In many cases this would have been altogether misleading, whereas, with the dates prefixed to the several Essays, no misconceptions can arise.
Richard A. Proctor.