Welsh Journals

Morris in making them accessible to the modern historian, should not be under- estimated. It is likely that Historic Swansea will form an important resource for future generations of researchers who share Rogers' enthusiasm for Swansea places and people in all their diversity. Louise Miskell HEROIC SCIENCE: SWANSEA AND THE ROYAL INSTITUTION OF SOUTH WALES 1835-1865 by Ronald Rees (Wales Books, 2005. ISBN 1-903529-16-6). The last sentence in this book refers to the "splendid nineteenth century library" in Swansea Museum, as one of the things the old Royal Institution building can still offer. During the past few years the author, a now retired Canadian academic born in Skewen, has made quiet and thoughtful use of it. It is comforting to those who live here to think that Swansea was, just once, of world sig- nificance: 1835 to 1865 was Swansea's moment. During the 19th century, that same book-lined room felt the tread of men who were at the forefront of science; John Henry Vivian, metallurgist; Lewis Weston Dillwyn, botanist; John Gwyn Jeffreys, conchologist; Henry De la Beche and William Logan, geologists; Thomas Williams, microbiologist and William Grove, physicist. Ronald Rees's studies of these seven men are the bulk and essence of the book, and while all have previously been written about, we learn a lot more here than has been available before. He describes the great controversies they were all involved in and assesses their publications. The book opens and closes with references to the British Associa- tion for the Advancement of Science meeting in the then remote town of Swansea in 1848. The meeting has been described as a symbol of the town's highest peak of achievement. The quality of reproduction of the illustrations in this standard paperback is no more than serviceable, which no doubt correlates with its reasonable price. Its strength is the text: well researched and full of interest. In this it is at one with the author's King Copper: South Wales and the Copper Trade 1584-1895 (UWP, 2000), and makes one look forward to the fruits of his future researches. May his visits to Swansea Museum from New Brunswick long continue. Gerald Gabb