NEARLY seventeen years ago I translated for the Philosophical Magazine the first of this series of Memoirs, by Professor Clausius, on the Mechanical Theory of Heat. A short time afterwards the Essay of Professor Helmholtz, Ueber die Erhaltung der Kraft, was placed in my hands: I translated it, and had it published in the continuation of 'Taylor's Scientific Memoirs.' It was thus my fortune to introduce to the scientific public of England the earliest writings of two of the most celebrated contributors to the great theory in question. For many years subsequent to the period here referred to, I was careful to translate, or to have translated, every paper published by these two writers; and the fact that the following series of these Memoirs is thought worthy of being presented in a collected form to the English public, proves that I did not overestimate their importance. I have been asked by its publisher to write a line or two of introduction to the present volume. This I could not refuse to do, though I feel how superfluous it must be; for the name and fame of Professor Clausius stand as high in this country as in his own. My Introduction therefore shall be confined to this brief statement of my relationship to his writings. They fell into my hands at a time when I knew but little of the Mechanical Theory of Heat. In those days their author was my teacher; and in many respects I am proud to acknowledge him as my teacher still. London, May 1867. JOHN TYNDALL. |
