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preferred giving the reasoning in the words of Professor Buckland; we will only quote the following passage:

"The grand fact of an universal deluge at no very remote period, is proved on grounds so decisive and incontrovertible, that had we never heard of such an event from Scripture, or any other authority, Geology of itself must have called in the assistance of some such catastrophe to explain the phenomena of diluvian action which are universally presented to us, and which are unintelligible without recourse to a deluge exerting its ravages at a period not more ancient than that announced in the book of Genesis."

We are happy to be able here to add an acknowledgment of the same tendency from one of the most distinguished philosophers of the French school, the celebrated Cuvier, who in his Theory of the Earth, Section 34, thus expresses himself:

"I am of opinion with Mr. Deluc and Mr. Dolomieu, that if there is any circumstance thoroughly established in geology, it is that the crust of our globe has been subjected to a great and sudden revolution, the epoch of which cannot be dated much farther back than five or six thousand years: and that this revolution had buried all the countries which were before inhabited by men, and by the other animals that are now best known."

Supported by such authorities, and grounded, as it is, on the most unquestionable facts, we conceive the geological argument for the credibility of the Mosaic accounts of the deluge to be most abundantly substantiated: it would be de parting from our immediate subject to enquire how Moses became acquainted with the particulars of that great catastrophe, but such an enquiry would, we think, tend to carry the argument still further, and place his claims to divine inspiration in a striking point of view. To proceed, however, in our review, we have next to notice, that the second point in which the sacred records have any connection with Geology, is, as was before remarked, the antiquity of the earth. This involves the question of the time necessary for the formation of the secondary strata. On this point our authors observe,

"We have the choice of the following hypotheses. First, if we adhere to the common interpretation of the periods of creation as having been literally days of twenty-four hours, and refuse to admit the existence of another order of things previous to that recorded by the inspired writer, we might still perhaps find sufficient space of time for the purposes required in the interval between the creation as thus limited, and the deluge. Upon this hypothesis

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we must suppose the present continents (in the greater part of their extent) to have been included in the channel of the primitive ocean, and to have gradually emerged thence during this period, becoming occupied, as they appeared, by the land animals, whose remains we find among the diluvian gravel: the primitive continents may upon this supposition, either have been limited portions of the present, (such as present no secondary rocks) for at first it seems evident, that a limited space only would be requisite; or if more extensive they may have been submerged in whole, or in part, during those great convulsions which accompanied the deluge.

"Or Secondly, we may perhaps, without real violence to the inspired writer, regard the periods of the creation recorded by Moses, and expressed under the term of days not to have designated ordinary days of twenty-four hours, but periods of definite but considerable length; such a mode of extending the signification of this term being not unexampled in other parts of the sacred writings. Those who embrace this opinion, will of course assign the formation of the secondary strata in great part, at least to these days of creation:' and we have the authority of several divines in favour of such an interpretation,

"Or Thirdly, it does not seem inconsistent with the authority of the sacred historian to suppose that, after recording in the first sentence of Genesis, the fundamental fact of the original formation of all things by the will of an intelligent Creator, he may pass sub silentio, some intermediate state, whose ruins formed the chaotic mass, he proceeds to describe, and out of which, according to his farther narrative, the present order of our portion of the universe was educed: upon this supposition the former world, whose remains we explore, may have belonged to this intermediate

era."

These interpretations are obviously conjectural; but it must be carefully observed, that all we want is, to shew the possibility simply, of reconciling the appearances presented by our globe, and which most decisively prove that there must have been a succession of terrestrial surfaces, and their inhabitants; with the accounts given of the origin of the present state of things in the sacred records; and any of the above hypotheses will be found sufficient to shew such a possibility. These remarks are concluded by some reflections: on the limits which must ever be opposed to human curiosity, and on the general conviction which a fully informed mind must always feel as to the truth of revelation. Some interesting quotations are also given from Mr. Sumner's valuable work on the Records of the Creation.

Our observations thus far have extended only to the introductory portion of the work; and with this we shall satisfy

ourselves the details of the subsequent part being hardly of such a nature as to admit of extracts or analysis. Upon the whole, we must conclude, by strongly recommending it as a valuable elementary introduction for the younger student; and a convenient and portable volume of reference and direction for the travelling geologist.

ART. VI. Parts IX. and X. of the Encyclopædia Metropolitana; or Universal Dictionary of Knowledge, on an Original Plan: comprising the two-fold Advantage of a Philosophical and an Alphabetical Arrangement: with appropriate and entirely new Engravings. 4to. Il. 1s. each Part. Mawman. Rivington. Baldwin, Cradock, & Joy. Parker. Deighton, &c. 1823.

IT is now five years since we first called the attention of our readers to this most important and interesting work (Brit, Crit. Oct. 1818,) and having then expressed ourselves freely respecting what appeared to us to be the advantages and difficulties of its plan, we strongly marked our approbation of the manner in which the execution of that plan had been commenced. In the period which has elapsed since our article was written, the fortunes of the Encyclopædia Metropolitana have endured a rude shock by the failure of its original proprietors: but the blow, which at first threatened it with shipwreck, has contributed, in the end, greatly to its good.

"Ab ipso

Duxit opes animumque ferro."

It has passed from somewhat ambiguous hands into the possession of owners of well-known responsibility among the chief capitalists of the book-trade; and after a temporary suspension, in order to complete such necessary arrangements as might assure its future progress without hazard of farther interruption, it re-appeared in January, 1822, and has since been regularly continued.

In some measure, therefore, it may be regarded as a new work, and as such we feel ourselves authorized once more to pass it under review. Its plan, with a few very slight modifications, remains the same as it was originally projected; and in the instances in which it has been thought advisable to admit small deviations, we are inclined to think that conside rable improvements have been attained. Since its resumption, the fixed periodical time for publication, has, for the most

part, been very accurately observed; insomuch that it bids fair to outrun some of its tardy and lingering predecessors, who have not derived the full benefit which ought to have accrued to them from their long previous start.

For ourselves, we speak feelingly as to this work. We were among the original subscribers on its first projection: we were sorely disappointed therefore, when it stopped short, for, highly as we had augured from its Prospectus, its workmanship, (we need not quote Ovid to our purpose,) far surpassed the materials which it had professed to elaborate; and we were much aggrieved to find ourselves only possessed of a mutilated torso, when we had bargained for an entire statue. At the first note of revival, we pricked up our ears; but still not with sufficient confidence to induce us to purchase afresh. It had failed before; why might it not do so again? for we carelessly glanced at the declaratory cover which enveloped it, and neglected to observe that publishers of high character and heavy weight of purse were pledged to its completion. We liked the original plan; but how did we know that under a new Executive, the original plan would be adhered to? for we forgot again to remark, that such adherence was distinctly stipulated for. Above all, how were we to feel certified about the capability of the anonymous writers engaged in it; and what wise man (rò λɛyóμevov,) would buy a pig in a puke? Our last doubt was easily answered by a stroll to Ludgatehill; and having seen two consecutive Parts appear on the days appointed for their delivery; having turned over the plates, with a wishful eyé, (they are some of the choicest specimens of Lowry's art,) and counted the number of sheets to find that they agreed with promise; and finally having gone so far as to feel a strong desire to read an article or two, which we had begun to skim, we betook ourselves to the publisher's shop, and removed our most embarrassing obstacle, by becoming satisfied, as any one else may be in the same manner, that the list of contributors presents a mass of distinguished talent, which it would not be easy to rival.

Once more then we have embarked with light hearts and reasonable faith in this speculation; and as we are anxious that most of our readers should do the same, (not from the motive which induced that sagacious animal which had lost his tail to propose to his assembled brethren, similar amputation for fashion-sake,) we shall again recapitulate the claims which we think strongly entitle the Encyclopædia Metropolitana to the general patronage-of all who require an Encyclopædia.

On the plan itself we need be but brief: for we have

already once before amply examined and explained it. The work is distributed into four general grand divisions. The two first of these contain detached Treatises, on what are severally termed Pure Sciences, and Mixed and Applied Sciences; not disposed in alphabetical order, but occurring in an arrangement which, even if it be arbitrary, has in it, at least, a good deal of convenience. Among the Pure Sciences Grammar and Logic have already been discussed. The first with much diligence and curiosity of research: the second, (which occupies those portions of the IXth and Xth Parts assigned to its general head,) in a Treatise which is at once profound and popular; which has the singular merit of rendering a study hitherto purposely involved in unnecessary abstruseness, both pleasing and familiar; and which rescues the doctrines of the Stagyrite from the vituperative charges which the wise men of the North have of late been in the habit of advancing against them and their cultivation. Our readers will not think this praise too high when we add the name which we have heard attributed to this article. It is whispered that it proceeds from the pen of Mr. Whately. We subjoin a short portion of the preliminary defence.

"Logic has usually been considered by these objectors as professing to furnish a peculiar method of Reasoning, instead of a method of analyzing that mental process which must invariably take place in all correct Reasoning; and accordingly they have contrasted the ordinary mode of reasoning with the syllogistic; and have brought forward with an air of triumph the argumentative skill of many who never learned the system: a mistake no less gross than if any one should regard Grammar as a peculiar language, and contend against its utility on the ground that many speak correctly who never studied the principles of Grammar; whereas Logic, which is, as it were, the Grammar of Reasoning, does not bring forward the regular syllogism as a distinct mode of argumentation, designed to be substituted for any other mode; but as the form to which all correct Reasoning may be ultimately reduced, and which consequently serves the purpose (when we are employing Logic as an Art) of a test to try the validity of any argument, in the same manner as by chemical analysis we deve lope and submit to a distinct examination the elements of which any compound body is composed, and are thus enabled to detect any latent sophistication and impurity.

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Complaints have also been made that Logic leaves untouched the greatest difficulties, and those which are the sources of the chief errors in Reasoning; viz. the ambiguity or indistinctness of terins, and the doubts respecting the degrees of evidence in various propositions: an objection which is not to be removed by any such attempt as that of Watts to lay down rules for forming clear

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