Transcriber's Notes Changes to the text (corrections to typographical errors) are listed at the end of the book. On page 45, in the reference "Beccheri's Physica Subterranea, Lipsiæ, 1738 (with supplement), 8vo., 1681-80;", no satisfactory explanation of "1681-80" has been found. Note that the publication date of Physica Subterranea is 1669. In Figure 2 on page 82, the following denote the conventional symbols for planetary bodies: [Sun], [Moon], [Mercury], [Venus], [Mars], [Jupiter], [Saturn], [Uranus]. On pages 83 & 84 in the explanation of Plate III, a single quote is used to denote the decimal point: this convention has been retained. In this Plain Text version of the e-book, the Latin-1 character set only is used. Italic typeface is denoted by surrounding _underscores_; small caps typeface is denoted by ALL CAPS; superscript symbols are preceded by caret (^). [Asterism] denotes three stars (asterisks). [oe] represents the oe-ligature. * * * * * [Illustration: EDWARD SOMERSET, SIXTH EARL AND SECOND MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. From a Bust by Mr. James Loft, Sculptor, exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1867; and now in the Sculpture Gallery of the Crystal Palace, Sydenham. ] SCIENTIFIC STUDIES: OR PRACTICAL, IN CONTRAST WITH CHIMERICAL PURSUITS; EXEMPLIFIED IN TWO POPULAR LECTURES. I. THE LIFE OF EDWARD SOMERSET, SECOND MARQUIS OF WORCESTER, INVENTOR OF THE STEAM ENGINE. II. CHIMERAS OF SCIENCE: ASTROLOGY, ALCHEMY, SQUARING THE CIRCLE, PERPETUUM MOBILE, ETC. With Illustrative Diagrams. BY HENRY DIRCKS, C. E., LL.D., F.C.S., M.R.S.L., F.R.S.R., &c. &c. AUTHOR OF "THE LIFE OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER;" "WORCESTERIANA;" &c. LONDON: E. & F. N. SPON, 48, CHARING CROSS, S.W. 1879. INTRODUCTION.