under the heads of general characters of organic remains; nature and process of petrifaction; means of ascertaining; classification; amount, or estimate of the thickness of the strata which are fossiliferous, from the most recent down to the Cambrian slates, the earliest stratum in which any vestiges of once living creatures have been detected; distribution into provinces, or appropriate limits of place on the surface of the globe. Tabular view of the number of species in each great system of strata, and a comparison with those existing in the present condition of the earth; periods of commencement and extinction, in their vertical, which must be the chronological order, with tables of the numbers of species in the systems, and an ingenious Palæontological Chart, exhibiting at one view the orders, families, and many genera of the plants and animals, known only by their preserved and mineralized remains; comparison of fossil and living species; particular descriptions of the most interesting species in every family or order, including the microzoari and microphyta (whether infusoria or not), disclosed by the indefatigable Dr. Ehrenberg, and the zealous microscopists who are following him. This is succeeded by a comprehensive view of ichnolithology, (footsteps of animals and marks of ripple and rain-drops,) in which the Professor seems to aim at concealing his own title to distinction in this field of investigation. This large portion of the work is closed by a body of general inferences, concerning the successive periods of change in the structure of the earth's crust, the elevations and subsidences of the former ocean beds, and consequently the periods of existence for organic remains.

VI. On the operation of Aqueous and Atmospheric Agencies in producing geological change. Here we have an ample account of Professor Agassiz's indefatigable and long-continued, yet recently published labors and arguments on the glaciers of Switzerland. Action of frost, rain, running water, lakes, seas, beaches, chemical deposits from water, mineral waters, bituminous springs; drift, blocks, moraines, grooved rocks.

VII. Operation of Organic Agencies in producing geological changes: Man; other animals; plants; peat; drift wood; agents of consolida

tion.

VIII. Igneous Agencies: Volcanoes and earthquakes; slow elevation and depression; submarine forests; extinct volcanoes; destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; the Plutonic, or older unstratified rocks; temperature of the globe; surface; interior; celestial space; metamorphic theory; hypotheses on the earliest condition of the globe; metallic

veins.

Upon the remaining sections we must content ourselves with more briefly indicating the subjects.

IX. Connexion between Geology and Natural and Revealed Religion. X. The History of Geology. The last paragraph of this section we will transcribe :

"Those whose recollection enables them to compare the state of geological science thirty years ago, with its present condition, and the

almost universal interest now taken in it, with the almost entire absence of all interest or knowledge on the subject then, will hardly venture to predict what will be its condition thirty years hence.”—p. 305.

XI. Geographical Geology.-This is a section of peculiar originality and interest. It is, indeed, brief and necessarily incomplete; but the author has shown sound judgment and tact in sketching the general views, and in selecting those particular objects which are of the greatest importance for economical purposes. He passes under review all the principal countries of the globe.

The following are the "general inferences" which the author draws:

"1. That the axes of all the principal chains of mountains on the globe, are composed of primary rocks, stratified and unstratified, while the secondary series lie upon their flanks at a still lower level, and the tertiary strata at a lower level still.

"2. A similar process of the elevation of continents, at successive epochs, has been going on in all parts of the world.

"3. There is every reason to believe that continents, once above the waters, have sunk beneath them, as those now above the waters, were gradually raised; for, since the quantity of matter in the globe has always remained the same, its diameter cannot be enlarged permanently; and, therefore, as one part rose, other parts must sink.

"4. The geology of any district, that embraces all the principal groups of rocks, affords us a type of the geology of the globe. This is what we should expect from the uniformity and constancy of nature's operations; and facts show that such is the case.

"5. We have no reason to expect that new discoveries, in unexplored parts of the earth, will essentially change the important principles of geology. Slight modifications of those principles are all that can reasonably be expected from future researches."—p. 336.

We must express some regret, that this valuable and most seasonable work is not brought forth with that external beauty of printing which it would have received if published in London. Yet the execution is far from being discreditable to the provincial press of New England, and we believe that Amherst is but a small town. The wood-cuts are very numerous; and, though not equally splendid with many productions of wood-engraving in our country, they are clear and accurate, and, with the exception of very few, they may be called handsome.

We shall conclude our notice by citing a few sentences from Dr. Pye Smith's Introduction

"In a manner unexpected and remarkable, the opportunity has been presented to me of bearing a public testimony to the value of Dr. Hitchcock's volume, ELEMENTARY GEOLOGY. This is gratifying, not only because I feel it an honor to myself, but much more as it excites the hope that, by this recommendation, theological students, many of my younger brethren in the evangelical ministry, and serious Christians in general, who feel the duty of seeking the cultivation of their own minds, may be induced to study this book. For them it is peculiarly adapted,

as it presents a comprehensive digest of geological facts and the theoretical truths deduced from them, disposed in a method admirably perspicuous; so that inquiring persons may, without any discouraging labor, and by employing the diligence which will bring its own reward, acquire such a knowledge of this science as cannot fail of being eminently beneficial."-p. ix.

"The spirit of these reflections bears a peculiar application to ministers of the gospel. To the pastors of rural congregations, no means of recreating and preserving health are comparable to these and their allied pursuits; and thus, also, in many temporal respects, they may become benefactors to their neighbors. In large towns, the establishment of libraries, lyceums, botanic gardens, and scientific associations, is rapidly diffusing a taste for these kinds of knowledge. It would be a perilous state for the interests of religion, that precious jewel whose essential characters are wisdom, knowledge, and joy, if its professional teachers should be, in this respect, inferior to the young and inquiring members of their congregations. For those excellent men who give their lives to the noblest of labors, a work which would honor angels, "preaching among the heathen the unsearchable riches of Christ;" a competent acquaintance with natural objects is of signal importance, for both safety and usefulness. They should be able to distinguish mineral and vegetable products, so as to guard against the pernicious, and determine the salubrious and very often geological knowledge will be found of the first utility in fixing upon the best localities for missionary stations; nor can they be insensible to the benefits of which they may be the agents, by communicating discoveries to Europe or the United States of America."-p. x.

ARTICLE IX.

REVIEW OF REVIEWS.

By the Senior Editor.

THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN REVIEW; OR EUROPEAN QUARTERLY JOURNAL, NO. XXV., JANUARY, 1842.

As we have before remarked, we regard this Quarterly as perhaps the most valuable periodical on our list. We have never failed to find in its pages interesting and instructive materials for our own work. The present Number is not inferior to most of its predecessors.

ART. I.-Esthetics, or the Philosophy of Art. This article is a review of the works of Hegel, Solger, Jean Paul and others on Esthetics. It fills about 48 pages, and while it discusses the philosophy of art, in general, its principal theme is Poetry. It is well worthy of the space which it occupies, as the leading article in the British and

Foreign Review. Our readers may expect the whole of it, with some additional remarks of our own in the next No. of the Eclectic.

ART. II.-Viola the Affianced; or, 'Tis an Old Tale and often told. London, 1839. Sixteen pages are occupied with a review of this little volume, which, though a work of fiction, is treated with seriousness, as containing much substantial truth. "It is a reading," says the reviewer, "on the anatomy of one of the saddest of all heart maladies.” -"Disappointed affection has no present anguish so tormenting as the discovery that a mere phantom of the brain has been mistaken for a state of the heart." Such is the theme of the touching and well written tale which is here noticed. The reviewer fancies that he detects in it abundant evidence of female authorship, and compares it, in style and excellence, to Miss Martineau's "Dearbrook,' "Dearbrook," Miss Edgeworth's "Keller," and Miss Austen's "Emma." These novels, however, belong to a class of reading, of which the world is too full; and if "Viola" is of higher morals and better tendency than most works of its kind, we commend it to the attention of all such as judge, with our reviewer, "that there may be more substantial truth in a work of fiction than in the faithfullest chronicle of facts."

ART. III.—This article is a review,-26 pages,-of the Poniatowski Collection of Antique Gems; a truly extraordinary collection, which has been palmed upon the public by Prince Poniatowski of Poland, the catalogue of which constitutes a quarto volume of 580 pages. The reviewer, before examining the authenticity of this collection, gives an instructive sketch of the history of Gem-engraving, from its recognized existence at the date of the book of Job, to the present time. From this history it would appear utterly impossible that the pretensions of the Polish Prince, in respect to this collection, can be true. It embraces two thousand six hundred and one engraved gems, all professing to be antiques, and actually bearing the names of the ancient artists, by which they claim to have been wrought.

"It consists of a complete series of subjects illustrating the Greek mythology from the birth of the giants from the blood of Uranus, the fabulous and heroic history of the ancient Greeks, the Iliad, Odyssey and Æneid, to portraits of illustrious Grecians of all classes, kings, statesmen, philosophers, doctors, both Greeks and barbarians, orators, poets, celebrated women, athlete, architects, painters, sculptors, gemengravers, both Greeks and Latins ;-all said to be authentic and genuine works of the greatest Greek gem-engravers, without reference to either time or place. We can only exclaim,

'Ye gods, annihilate but space and time,

And make collectors happy.'

"We have long known, that among the most credulous of men, collectors of antiquities stand in the first rank; their imagination is usually

consulted for their facts; and their love of gain (for they are all dealers) is the chief prompter of arguments by which others may be deluded into the belief of that authenticity and genuineness which they themselves invariably doubt, until they become possessors, a circumstance which invariably removes every doubt.

"In a catalogue sent forth to the world by those very respectable men, Messrs. Christie and Manson, we are informed, that the celebrity to which this collection, from the commencement of its formation by King Stanislaus nearly a century ago, and its completion by the illustrious family of Poniatowski, has attained, renders it unnecessary to enlarge upon the merits of the riches it possesses.'

"From this sentence we learn that the collection was gradually formed, in short, that it has occupied successive generations nearly a century. That increases the difficulty, as it calls on us to believe that successive generations, all ardent in the same pursuit, were so fortunate as to ac. cumulate two thousand six hundred and one engraved gems, all without blemish from the effects of time, fire, water, or violence, and when arranged, forming a complete set of illustrations of Greek and Latin mythology and poetry. The probability is about equal of obtaining a Shakspeare by grinding letters in a mill. That two thousand six hundred and one gems should have been scattered over ancient Europe for just as many years, and that not one of them should ever have been known to the pack of antiquity-hunters who were, from at least the time of the Medici, poking their noses into every hole and corner, is as possible as that the part should be greater than the whole.

"It would be rash to affirm, that in this great number there is not a single genuine antique: among the rings and heads there may be a few; among the medallions two or three might be selected as either originals or exquisite copies; the subject of Ulysses weeping at the tale of Troy sung by Demodocus, attributed to Dioscorides, has every appearance of being authentic. The composition, drawing and expression are admirable, and the style of the execution, free, firm and refined. Were all the medallions of equal excellence the value of them would be immense, but a very small number can be placed in the same class. These may have constituted the foundation of this collection, leaving the fact of their first discovery in obscurity. Prince Poniatowski probably brought them with him to Rome, and then with liberality and taste made this extra. ordinary collection, partly by purchasing gems already engraved, but chiefly by employing engravers who were eminent in that branch of the

art.

"It must be obvious to any one who examines this collection, that the idea has emanated from one mind, that the subjects might be arranged in sets, the manner of each set being so marked as to leave no doubt of its being the work of one hand; there are exceptions which rather tend to prove the rule, and those exceptions are generally superior to the sets, and many of them works of art of great excellence, without however those characteristics which would stamp them as works of Greek artists of the ages preceding Pericles or subsequent to him. The eighteenth century produced many artists capable of contributing to such a collec. tion, and connoisseurs have been of opinion, that the styles of both Giovanni and Carlo Costanzi, Giughi, Flavio Sirletti, and Francesco his