Benjamin, Count RUMFORD. "Inquiries Concerning the Heat, etc. Recherches sur la chaleur qui se degage dans la combustion, et d'un descrpiton d'un Calorimetre nouveau," and BLUMENBACH, "On the Bodily Conformation, and Mental Capacity of Negroes" in "Bibliotheque Britannique

Benjamin, Count RUMFORD. "Inquiries Concerning the Heat, etc. Recherches sur la chaleur qui se degage dans la combustion, et d'un descrpiton d'un Calorimetre nouveau," in "Bibliotheque Britannique, ou Recuell extrait des Ouvrages Anglais periodiques et autres." Geneva, Imp. De la Bibliotheque Britannique, 1812, volume 51, in the Science et Arts series. 396 pp. Paper-covered boards and spine. There is a little wear and rubbing to the boards, though overall the binding is quite nice. VERY GOOD. The text is very crisp and bright, and occasionally unopened. [++] The "Bibliotheque Britannique" provided translations of significant and important papers (mostly extracts, or reviews, though with some complete article translations) that were written primarily in English and then translated into French to reach a wider audience in Europe many of these translations were the first exposure to the papers on the Continent. Many of the leading lights were published here including Jenner, Davy, Thomson, Wollaston, Waterhouse, Gay-Lussac, Pictet, and many others. The journal was active 1796-1815 after which it changed direction somewhat and renamed "Bibliotheque Universelle". For more on the significance on the BB, see: "The Transmission of Culture in Western Europe, 1750-1850: Papers Celebrating the Bicentenary of the Foundation of the 'Bibliothèque britannique' (1796-1815) in Geneva" by David Bickerton and Judith Proud. [++] Offered in this volume are: Benjamin, Count RUMFORD. "Inquiries Concerning the Heat, etc. Recherches sur la chaleur qui se degage dans la combustion, et d'un descrpiton d'un Calorimetre nouveau," pp 3-17 and concluded on 97-116. (This is the translation of Rumford's "Inquiries Concerning the Heat Developed in Combustion, with a Description of a New Calorimeter" in Nicholson's Journal, 1812: 32; 105-125. [++] Also: BLUMENBACH, "On the Bodily Conformation, and Mental Capacity of Negroes, by Prof. Blumenbach, article tire du London." pp 71-84. This is the French translation of the short article by Blumenbach that appeared originally in the London Medical Review and Magazine, vol III, 1800. Johann Friedrich Blumenbach (1752-1840) German physician, naturalist, physiologist, and anthropologist. Here he seems to me to make a strong case for the "Negro race" to be inferior to whites in no way. At least that is my quick read (I am not fluent in French). He writes: "That the (N)egroes, in regard to their mental faculties and capacity, are not inferior to the rest of the human race. (p 75) The testimonies and examples which serve to prove the truth of the second proposition, respecting the mental faculties, natural talents and ingenuity of the (N)egroes, are equally numerous and incontrovertible. Their astonishing memories, their great activity, and their acuteness in trade, are all circumstances so well known, that it is not necessary to enlarge on them. The great aptitude of the slaves for learning every kind of nice handicraft is equally well known ; and the case is the same in regard to their musical talents, as we have instances of (N)egroes playing the violin in so masterly a manner, that they have gained as much money as enabled them to purchase their liberty. ." (p 76). …