gous to this in the course of Nature? The author contends that there is, and he names it Natural Selection. This principle, whatever others may think of it, and whether they admit its operations or not, in Mr. Darwin's book plays the prominent part. It may be plainly defined, and appears to be briefly this. Under domestication it may be truly said that the whole animal organization becomes in some degree plastic. As variations useful to man have undoubtedly occurred, is it not to be expected that other variations, useful in some way to each being in the great and complex battle of life, should sometimes occur in the course of thousands of generations? If such do occur, then, remembering the struggle for existence, individuals possessing any advantage over others would have the best chance of surviving and of procreating their kind, while injuri ous variations would be rigidly destroyed. Such a continual preservation of favorable, and rejection of injurious variations, is the principle of Natural Selection. It is illustrated, amplified and confirmed by abundant examples through many pages."

Certainly there is something poetical in the conception of a succession of created beings, daily and hourly making the wisest election amidst all variations and divergencies; carefully rejecting what is bad, and preserving and accumulating all that is good; operating silently and insensibly, whenever and wherever opportunity offers, towards the improvement of every organized existence in relation to its organic and inorganic condition of life. There is, too, a certain simplicity in the theory of descent with modification through natural selection from a few vastly remote progenitors. I believe,' says Mr. Darwin, that animals have descended from at most only four or five progenitors, and plants from an equal or lesser number. Analogy would lead us one step further— namely, to the belief that all animals and plants have descended from some one prototype.' A cabbage may have been the parent plant, a fish the parent animal.

"A man of imaginative power might most attractively depict the grand yet simple and direct issues of such a theory. Here are a vast variety of forms of life, most wonderfully co-adapted, most closely connected, most richly adorned, yet they are all the lineal descendants of those which lived before the Silurian epoch; and one may feel certain that the ordinary succession by generation has never once been broken, and that no cataclysm has desolated the whole world. Hence, we may look with some confidence to a secure future of equally inappreciable length. And as Natural Selection works solely by and for the good of each being, all corporeal and mental endowments will tend to progress toward perfection.' Yes, an unbroken, sure, though slow, living progress towards animal perfectibility is a delightful vision; natural and gradual optimism is a welcome fancy. What need of distinct creation? If a monkey has become a man-what may not a man become?

"Let the past history of organic life speak. From the thirteen miles in thickness of British strata (exclusive of igneous rocks) comes there no testimony Palæontology is summoned into court, and is closely interrogated by Mr. Darwin. This proves but a hesitating and reluctant witness; yet counsel for the new theory detects and exposes its imperfections where its testimony is not favorable. We might fairly expect to find in

the fossiliferous rocks not a few proofs of the former existence of the numerous intermediate links between distinct specific forms if the proposed theory be true. We do not find them, many will allege, because they never existed. Not so, says our theorist,-but because they were never preserved. Paleontology, however, has not yet revealed any such finely graduated organic scale, and it is not logical to assume that it ever will. When a record is flatly against you, it is quite allowable for you to display its imperfection, but, that being proved, you have only established a negative, and have acquired no confirmation. Grant imperfection, enormous lapse of time, poverty of palæontological collections, and comparative restriction of research, and other such postulates, and then the theory stands just as it stood before, uncorroborated by geology.

"There is positively hostile testimony from the rocks to be confronted. Whole groups of species suddenly and abruptly appear in certain formations, and seem at once to contradict any theory of transmutation of species. Either that fact or the theory must be overturned. Of course, Mr. Darwin accepts the former alternative, and strives to show how liable we are to error in supposing that whole groups of species have been suddenly produced. But another and an allied objection may be started, derived from the manner in which numbers of species of the same group suddenly appear in the lowest known fossiliferous rocks. To meet this and uphold the new theory, it must be sustained by another, viz.,-that before the lowest Silurian stratum was deposited, immensely protracted periods elapsed, at least as long as any subsequent periods, and that during these vast extensions of time the world swarmed with living creatures. Several of the most eminent geologists, including Murchison, will refuse to admit this presumption. Mr. Darwin's geology is more singular than we had thought. For instance,' says he, 'I cannot doubt that all Silurian trilobites have descended from some one crustacean which must have lived long before the Silurian age, and which probably differed greatly from any known animal.' Extend and multiply such assumptions, and the theories may take any form you please."

"After all, this book is but an abstract. The larger work is nearly finished, but it will demand two or three more years for completion. Health, labor, and observations are wanting for awhile, but in due season we hope to see the work with references and authorities for the several statements.' We should offer remarks on some important topics but that our author says, 'A fair result can be obtained only by fully stating and balancing the facts and arguments on both sides of the question; and this cannot possibly be here done.'

"Meanwhile Mr. Darwin anticipates small favor from many of the older and more eminent naturalists; his hopes chiefly rest on the young, and, as he would say, the unshackled. 'A few naturalists,' he observes, 'endowed with much flexibility of mind, who have already begun to doubt on the immutability of species, may be influenced by this volume; but I look with confidence to the future, to young and rising naturalists who will be able to view both sides of the question with inpartiality.' It is enough for us to add that neither book, author, nor

subject is of merely ordinary character. The work deserves attention, and will, we have no doubt, meet with it. Scientific naturalists will take up the author upon his own peculiar ground; and there will we imagine be a severe struggle for at least theoretical existence."

3. Elements of Somatology: A Treatise on the general properties of Matter; by GEO. M. MACLEAN, M.D., Prof. Chemistry and Nat. Philosophy, in Alleghany City, Pa. New York: J. Wiley, 56 Walker St., 1859. 12mo, pp. 124.-This modest little volume, the author tells us in his preface, is the fruit of many hours of study during a period of ill-health-a sort of "Consolations of a Philosopher."

It is a simple exposition of accepted doctrines on the familiar subjects of extension, impenetrability, figure, divisibility, indestructibility, porosity, compressibility, dilatibility, mobility, inertia, contraction, repulsion, polarity, elasticity, and the constitution of matter. The subject of Attraction he considers under thirty-one subdivisions. His expositions of the phenomena of adhesion, capillarity and osmose are more full and satisfactory than it is usual to find in elementary works. On many points in his discussions, we might join issue with our Author, as when he states cohesive attraction to be only a modification of gravitation(p. 57)-and when he adduces the phenomena of contraction in a soapbubble, in illustration of the cause of the meniscus of capillarity (p. 69).

It would have added materially to the value of the Treatise, and its interest to the student and general reader, if the author had appended to passages marked as quotations a reference to the authority from which they are copied. Except a quotation accredited to Cavallo, we do not recall a single reference to any authority in the volume.

A brief statement of the accepted doctrines of physics on the subject of "Molecular Forces" would have relieved his chapters on attraction and repulsion of several obscure points.

The work bears marks of haste, or want of careful revision of the press. Among many examples of this we may name the sentence under capillary attraction, commencing "The tube having the form of a syphon," (foot of p. 69) which conveys so confused a notion of what the Author seeks to express, that after several readings we have been unable to comprehend it. Bodies are said to weigh less near the poles than at the equator, (p. 55), and numerous typographical blemishes evidence the disadvantage of printing a scientific book at a distance from the press. These minor faults are easily removed in a new edition-which will be very likely to be called for, as the book is one of convenient reference for all teachers. The author will, however, confer a great favor on all such readers in a new edition, by quoting his authorities.

4. The Telegraphic Manual, a complete history and description of the Semaphoric, Electric and Magnetic Telegraphs of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, ancient and modern, with 625 illustrations; by T. P. SCHAFFNER, of Kentucky. N. York, 1859. 8vo, pp. 850.-The title of this volume is an index to its contents. That he may leave nothing behind him for future explorers, the author commences his labors with Adam and Eve, in Eden! Mr. Schaffner has, from his wide and long experience in telegraphic construction and management both in the United States and in Europe, remarkable qualifications for the work he has under

taken. The result of his labors is satisfactory. His work, in fullness of detail, leaves little to desire, and he appears always solicitous to avoid the charge of partizanship in awarding to rival parties what he judges to be their respective shares of merit, in cases of contested claims. As a literary production, it is to be regretted that the author did not submit his manuscripts to the revision of some judicious literary friend-thus avoiding certain faults of style of too frequent occurrence. But these are minor faults and can be easily pardoned where there is so much to praise.

5. Bail's Drawing System: THE HUMAN HEAD, by LOUIS BAIL, (graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, in Munich). New Haven: Author, 1859. 8vo, 64 plates in outline.-Prof. Bail has here done a great service to both teachers and pupils in the Arts in the United States. The success which has followed the Author's use of his own system in many of our higher seminaries, as well as in public classes, is the best guaranty of the adaptation of its parts to the great ends of instruction, and no doubt will secure its general adoption.

6. Memoir of John Griscom, LL.D., late Professor of Chemistry and Nat. Philosophy, &c. ; by his son, JOHN H. GRISCOм, M.D. New York: Carter, 1859. 8vo, pp. 427.-Some among the older readers of this Journal will recall with pleasure the selections from foreign scientific literature, which for many years Prof. Griscom prepared for these pages. His active life was well filled with varied duty as an instructor and philanthropist. He was either largely or entirely instrumental in the establishment of the New York High School; the Society for the prevention of Pauperism; the House of Refuge; and other institutions of public charity, which amid all the complaints of profligacy in her public administration, have shed a peculiar honor on the active benevolence of the City of New York.

As early as 1818, he instituted and sustained for many years, independent courses of scientific lectures, in New York city, and in other places-illustrating his courses by numerous experiments, and a costly apparatus procured at his own expense. This was long before the era of popular lectures, and Dr. Griscom, with the senior Editor of this Journal, may claim the honor of inaugurating a system which has since become almost universal in the United States.

Dr. Griscom published two volumes of Travels in Europe, in 1818-19, remarkable for the spirit of candor and kindness which is seen on every page, and interesting to this day, for the characteristic personal sketches he gives of the distinguished men of science he met abroad.

Dr. Griscom was an eminently good man; a member of the Society of Friends; a devout Christain believer, and without bigotry. His mild and gentle nature delighted in the most catholic liberality, and many of his warmest friends were members of other Christian sects. We have recently been called upon to commemorate several eminent scientific friends and collaborators-Cleaveland, Hare, Redfield and Olmsted, now numbered with the dead. We now add the name of Griscom-a name cherished long and warmly by intimate social and scientific relations. Our early auxiliaries and friends in science are now few in number, and our duties are soon to pass into younger and we hope better hands

but the pioneers will be remembered as the pilgrims of science, although its votaries are now a Legion. This Memoir is a fine example of its class, and does credit both to the filial piety and literary ability of its distinguished Author.

B. S.

FLEURY: Des races qui se partagent l'Europe. 8vo, 132 pages. Hachette & Co.This author has brought to his study of the races great learning and a deep knowledge of the facts. He considers modern European civilization as springing from the German race.

JAMIN: Cour de Physique de l'Ecole polytechnique. T. II. with 3 plates and 191 figures in the text.-This volume contains Heat and Acoustics. The plates are engraved and the mathematical formulæ are printed with the neatness and accuracy which distinguish at present the productions of the press of Bachelier above all

others in France.

G. LAMÉ : Leçons sur les coordennées, curvilignes et leurs diverses applications, in 8vo. 1859. Mallet-Bachelier, Paris.-Under this title the distinguished Professor of the Polytechnic School introduces to us a new branch of mathematical science. It is geometry considered from a physico-mathematical point of view.

OBITUARY.

Professor WILLIAM W. TURNER, one of our most distinguished philologists, died at Washington, Nov. 29, 1859, in the 50th year of his age. Although an excellent linguist, he devoted himself less to the study of words than to that of the structure of languages, their origin and connections, upon which subject his views were eminently philosophic. He was born in London, but was brought in his fifth year to this country, where he has ever since resided. He early developed a taste for the study of oriental languages and was in 1842 appointed instructor in the Hebrew and cognate tongues in the Union Theological Seminary of New York. The last seven years of his life were spent in Washington, where his attainments and upright, amiable deportment secured to him a host of friends. He did a vast amount of work in the way of translation and grammatic compilation, little of which has, however, appeared in his name: he is chiefly known for his contributions to the "Bibliotheca Sacra" and to the journals of the American Oriental and Ethnological societies. But his published works give no adequate idea of the extent of his labors; his stores of knowledge were always open to his friends and most freely imparted, thus contributing to the advancement of sciences. other than his own. He had, during the past ten years, given much attention to the study of the Aborigines of North America and their languages, not only elaborating general principles from the vocabularies collected by travellers, but confirming these and adding new information by communication with the delegates from various tribes that visited Washington upon business with the central government. In this investigation he accumulated a large amount of materials which will, it may be hoped, be some time given to the world.

W. S.

Dr. GEORGE WILSON, First Regius Professor of Technology in the Uni versity of Edinburgh, and Director of the Industrial Museum of that City, died near the end of November last, at the early age of 41. He was the biographer of Reid and Cavendish, and author of numerous researches, among which are the discovery of fluorine in blood and sea-water. Other of his published works are his "Researches on Color-blindness,” an “Elementary Treatise on Chemistry," and "The Five Gate-ways of Knowledge." He is a great loss to his native city and the world.