Dictionary of Physics or an Attempt at an Explanation of the Most Important Concepts and Technical Terms of Natural Philosophy

Preface.

as well as the Brissonian dictionary Mathurin Jacques Brisson, a French natural philosopher *) that appeared at the same time. However, upon closer examination of both works, I did not find it advisable to arrange a translation of either the one or the other. De la Fond, whose other merits regarding several branches of natural philosophy I do not deny, presents in this dictionary—with the omission of everything that stands in any connection with mathematical propositions, except for a few matters he particularly worked on, e.g., the theories of electricity, magnets, gases, and physical instruments—mostly natural history, physiology, and chemistry; he writes out Musschenbroek, Haller, and Macquer word for word, often without naming them, and where he speaks himself, he clothes few things in many words and tiresome declamations. Brisson, whose work is intended to form a part of the Encyclopédie par ordre des matieres Encyclopedia by Subject Matter, writes much more thoroughly, concisely, and with greater knowledge of all subjects and auxiliary sciences belonging to physics; however, either a lack

*) Reasoned Dictionary of Physics by Mr. Brisson, of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Master of Physics and Natural History to the Children of France, Royal Professor of Experimental Physics at the Royal College of Navarre, and Royal Censor. in Paris. 1781. II. Volumes. 4to. together with a special volume which contains 90 beautiful corresponding copperplates.