In laying the following pages before the public, it seems necessary to state that the design of them is to render more easily accessible a greater portion of the general principles of Physics and Meteorology than is usually to be obtained, without the sacrifice of a greater amount of time and labour than most persons can afford, or are willing to make. The subjects of which this volume treats are very numerous--more numerous, in fact, than at first sight it would seem possible to embrace in so small a compass. The Author has, however, by a system of the most judicious selection and condensation, been enabled to introduce all the most important facts and theories relating to Statics, Hydrostatics, Dynamics, Hydrodynamics, Pneumatics, the Laws of the Motions of Waves in general, Sound, the Theory of Musical Notes, the Voice and Hearing, Geometrical and Physical Optics, Magnetism, Electricity and Galvanism, in all their subdivisions, Heat and Meteorology, within the space of an ordinary middle-sized volume. Of the manner in which the translator has executed his task, it behoves him to say nothing; he has attempted nothing more than a plain, and nearly literal version of the original. He cannot, however, conclude this brief introductory note without directing the attention of his Readers to the splendid manner in which the Publishers have illustrated this volume. _August, 1847._ "The Physics of Muller is a work, superb, complete, unique: the greatest want known to English Science could not have been better supplied. The work is of surpassing interest. The value of this contribution to the scientific records of this country may be duly estimated by the fact, that the cost of the original drawings and engravings alone has exceeded the sum of 2000£."--_Lancet_, March, 1847. "The plan adopted by Muller is simple; it reminds us of the excellent and popular treatise published many years since by Dr. Arnott, but it takes a much wider range of subjects. Like it, all the necessary explanations are given in clear and concise language, without more than an occasional reference to mathematics; and the treatise is most abundantly illustrated with well-executed wood engravings. "The author has actually contrived to comprise in about five hundred pages, including the space occupied by illustrations, Mechanics, the Laws of Motion, Acoustics, Light, Magnetism, Electricity, Galvanism, Electro-Magnetism, Heat, and Meteorology. "Medical practitioners and students, even if they have the means to procure, have certainly not the time to study an elaborate treatise in every branch of science: and the question therefore is, simply, whether they are to remain wholly ignorant of such subjects, or to make a profitable use of the labours of those who have the happy art of saying or suggesting much in a small space.