I enter, in a few days, on the discharge of my professional duties, under considerable disadvantages, owing to the late introduction into our courses of some French works on the highest branches of mathematics, which it falls to my lot first to teach.

Between French, therefore, and fluxions, and moreover, the _French method of fluxions_, which is somewhat peculiar, I have had my hands pretty full.

I look forward to a respite in April." The professor had, in fact, to teach his class as he taught himself, and just kept ahead of them--a very hard task.
In the mean time, while this plan of an enlarged publication was kept in view, I pushed my narrative forward.

While it was going through the press, almost every mail brought me something of interest respecting the progress of scientific discovery.

A few items may be noticed.
_Discovery of Strontian on Lake Erie_ .-- Mr.William A.Bird, of Troy, of the Boundary Survey, writes (Jan.