Excerpt from The Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art: Exhibiting the Most Important Discoveries and Improvements of the Past Year, in Mechanics and the Useful Arts; Natural Philosophy; Electricity; Chemistry; Zoology and Botany; Geology and Geography; Meteorology and Astronomy
Although the Discoveries in the several fields of Science, during the past year, have been more characterized by their utility than by their brilliancy, it is presumed that on such account, the present volume - attempting to record these Discoveries - will be not less acceptable to the public than its precursors.
It has been appositely observed of the late Anniversary Meeting of the British Association, (in one of the first journals to chronicle its Proceedings,) that
"We have this year no great scientific novelty, theory, or discovery, brought upon the tapis, and claiming the attention of absent philosophers. There is no voyage to the South Pole to be promoted, - there is no hypothesis of glaciers to astonish the world, - there is no observation of the nature of storms to throw a light upon these terrible visitations, - there is no doctrine and measurement of the waves, or on the form of vessels, (which are now nearly wrought out). - there is no new feature in the grand research into the mysteries of magnetism, - in short, except the idea of following up the investigation of meteorological phenomena by means of balloons, we have heard of nothing very particular in any of the Sections. Let it be understood, how. ever, that in all the brunches of science which engage the mind of the Association, steady progress has been made and recorded. Data of high consequence are collected, both to check future mistakes and advance future information. Induction, the true basis of all truth, will flourish upon these; and therefore, though there is nothing extraordinary in this stage of the onward journey, the distances and milestones are fairly marked so far, and the prospects in the distance are rendered much more clear and distinct. The way to the field is beaten, and its ample survey defined. There is nothing needed but to march on, take time, and labour to a useful end."
Such has ever been the aim of the Editor of the Year-book of Facts: and, in his humble labour, he cheerfully acknowledges that he has been largely assisted by the judicious scientific reports in the Journal, wherein he recognises the above coincident object and purpose.
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