The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-17 00:00:00

person under the control of another, and disturbed in
mind. When that circumstance was alleged by any.
person or persons as a reason for not answering their
queries, he thought that the reason was a good and bona
fide one. So much for the order, as to the certificates,
the language of the 46th section of the Act was different
from the 45th. It provided that every certificate should
contain such peculiar forms, but when they saw that the
persons called upon to act were persons known to the
law as being skilful in this particular disease, there was
some reason for not requiring from them the same exact-
ness which they would require from a stranger, or any
layman not acquainted with the question or disease.
The first certificate stated that the lady was of unsound
mind, because she laboured under various delusions, and
because she was extremely dirty and indecent in her per-
son. lle thought it would be monstrous to require all
the peculiarities of these delusions in these cases. There
were, unfortunately, many things which were considered
delusions, and which were, after all, a mere difference
of opinion ; and circumstances of this sort might arise,
which now, according to the Act, referred to persons to
whom, in the exercise of their skill and opinions, these
delusions were perfectly well understood with reference
to the nature of the disease ; and the skilful persons
who certified as to the existence of delusions did quite
sufficient to show that the certificate was a good one.
The latter clause of it alone, " that she was dirty and
indecent in her person," was sufficient to furnish that.
opinion ; and the statement of particulars would only
be a matter of offence and disgust. The second certifi-
cate was not so formal; but still it did nut follow that the
form given in the Act must be implicitly followed. It
would have been much better that the form laid
down by the Act bad been adopted ; but if they
found that the certificate given was equivalent,
they ought to be satisfied. If the gentleman
himself bad kept to the printed form it would have been
better for all. The statement of the fact that he had
had a conversation of three hours' duration, from which
he was clearly of opinion that the lady was a person of
unsound mind, was perfectly sufficient. He considered
that it was the statement of a fact required by the terms
of the 46th section of the Act ; and this fact was one on
which a skilful person would be enabled to found an
opinion. The Act required a definite statement ; and
here is a statement made on his reputation. But none
of these proceedings were final—they all led to a course
of inquiry, solely to protect the person who was the
object of it, and the object of these proceedings was to
point out the sources from which information was to be
derived. The Court was, therefore, of opinion, that the
second certificate was in itself good and sufficient ; and
he thought himself bound to go further, and to state that
if the Court should be of opinion that on the return the
party was still a dangerous .lunatic—it would betray its
duty to the law and to every member of society if it were
to say "Set that person at large." The Court had no
power to set that certificate aside. Their only
power was to set the party at liberty. Would it be jus-
tified in letting the party at large, though they might
be satisfied that the probability was that there would be
danger and mischief to life in such a course? And he felt
himself bound to say that the liberation of an individual
would be an abuse of the very name of liberty, when his
liberation would only be hazardous to himself and others,
and those who had any interest in the welfare of these
unfortunate persons ought to be anxious that the re-
straint imposed upon them by the Act of Parliament
should continue.

The other Learned Judges expressed their entire con-
currence in these observations, and Mrs. Shuttleworth
was remanded back to her original custody.
EXCHEQUER.-(THIS DAY.)

HUNTINGTON V. THE GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY
COMPANY.

In this case, which was tried at Warwick, the plaintiff
sought to recover compensation for the loss of a quan-
tity of pearl-shell, which he had forwarded by the Com-
pany in question. It appeared that, through the negli-
gence of the Company's servants, a gross fraud had been
committed upon the plaintiff ; the goods had by some
means been abstracted, and a quantity of rubbish • sub-
stituted. The jury at the trial found a verdict for the
plaintiff.
Mr. HILL-now moved for a rule, calling upon the
Master to reolew his taxation in the cause. The verdict
originally returned for the plaintiff was subsequently
set aside on the ground that it was contrary to evidence,
and a new trial was ordered to be had ; upon this
trial fresh counsel were engaged, and a verdict was
again returned for the plaintiff. But the Master had
only allowed the costs of the second trial ; and the
question which was now sought to be referred back to
the Master was, whether the costs of the former trial
should not be allowed. He contended that unless such
a course were adopted, a large and powerful company
like the Grand Junction would be always able to make
success too dear, and thus deter parties from suing them,
on the ground that they bad better lose 201. than go
to law.
The LORD CHIEF BARON—That is merely reading
you a practical lesson, Mr. Hill.
Mr. HILL—I always understood that the successful
party had their costs.
The LORD CHIEF BARON—Not always.
Mr. HlLL—Then I suppose it is a mere fiction that
the losing party pays the costs.
The LORD CHIEF BARON—That may be so.
_ Mr. HlLL—Then I contend, my Lord, that, although
it may be law, it is not justice ; and the result of such a
course will be, to enable the rich to say to the poor—
" Although we have committed an act of injustice
towards you, you had better not go to law with us, for
you will have to pay the costs."
Mr. Baron ALDERSON—There will always be difficul-
ties connected with going to law.
After considerable argument, the Court refused to
grant the rule.—Rule refused.

PETERS V. DOBSON.

In this action, which was tried at Guildhall last Thurs-
day, before the Sheriff of Loudon, the plaintiff sought
to recover the sum of 104 17s. 6d. for goods sold and de-
livered. The defendant pleaded that the goods were not
according to order, that the credit had not expired upon
which the goods were sold, and lastly, non acceptance of
the goods under the etatute of frauds. A verdict was
returned for the plaintiff, with leave to enter a nonsuit,
or to move for a new trial.

Mr. PRENTICE accordingly now moved for leave to
enter a nonsuit upon the first of the grounds above
named. It appeared from the evidence given on the
trial that the plaintiff's traveller called upon the de-
fendant, and asked for an order for some goods, after a
short time defendant gave him an order, and some goods
were sent the same evening. Defendant looked at them,
and considering them not of the same quality as ordered
by him, returned them to the plaintiff before twelve
o'clock on the nest day, and upon the same evening they
were again brought back to the house of the defendant ;
upon their arrival the defendant said he, would have no-
thing to do with them, and threw them out into the
street, where they were picked up by,typoliceman and
conveyed by him to the station-house, where they still
remained. Upon those grounds, it was now contended
that this did not amount to an acceptance of the goods
under the statute of frauds. Upon the other grounds
it was contended that the verdict was against evidence.
The CounT—Take a rule to show cause.

COMMON PLEAS.-(THIS DAY.)
CLAIIKE V. SMITH.
Mr. WATSON moved for a rule nisi for the discharge
of the defendant from custody, on the ground that he
had been committed under an erroneous construction of
had
the Bankruptcy Act. The prisoner, a bankrupt,
obtained his certificate, but a judgment against him
having previously been obtained in the Court of Queen's
Bench, on Saturday last, an application was made to
Mr. Justice Erie by the plaintiff, founded on affidavits,
setting forth that the bankrupt had been in the habit
of gambling, by which he had got into his difficulties,
and praying that under the circumstances the Learned
Judge might order his committal. He was in con-
sequence ordered into custody, as it was alleged the cer-
tificate of bankruptcy did not bar the authority of the
Court, The present application was on two grounds—
first, that the judge had mistaken the true construction
of the Act; and, second, that the defendant was prepared
by affidavits to deny the charge of gambling.
The. COURT thought it was a very proper question for
consideration, and would grant the rule nisi.

BANKRUPTCY.-(THIS DAY.)
(Before Mr. Commissioner SHEPnEnn.)
KING V. DAVIS.

This defendant was a milkman, in Crown-street, St.
Giles's, and was summoned under the Small Debts Act,
to show cause why he did not pay thb sum of 31.15. debts,
and 41. 18s. 3d. costs.

would willingly- take charge of hiS botintY, and see that
it was properly applied. He would not allow the woman
to receive the money in one sum at once, but would give
it her as she wanted it.

Mr. T. B. HUGHES appeared as counsel for the de-
fendant, and said that this was the second time that the
defendant had been summoned. In the first case he was
summoned as David Davis, in which name judgment had
been issued against him ; he was now summoned as
Daniel Davis. This was evidently wrong, and he had
to submit that the Learned Commissioner had no power
to act on a summons clearly issued against a party nrat
on the record or judgment paper.
The Learned COMMISSIONER said that the defendant
had appeared and admitted himself to be the party, and
therefore he thought that he was empowered under the
words of the Act " to summon and examine such person
indebted."
Mr. HUGHES said, that if his Honour considered the
position of the Sheriff in such a case, it would probably
determine his opinion, it was clear that no Sheriff would
levy on the goods of David, the execution being against
those of Daniel.
The Learned COMMISSIONER said he should try the
question by making an order.
Mr. HUGHES said the Sheriff would levy at his peril.
The defendant was willing. to pay the debt, but would
not pay the costs of an action which had been continued
for the sake of costs, after information bad been given of
the error.
The Learned COMMISSIONER considered this a fair
offer, and, as it was rejected, refused to make any order.

MARLBRO'-STREET--(THIS DAY.)
Daiiid Clary was charged with an assault upon an old
woman, and also upon the police.
Betty Martin, the complainant, who lives in Seven
Dials, said the defendant was a lodger at her house.
Last night there had been some riot on the Dials, in
which the prisoner took part. The complainant went
up to him, and asked,- " what' is the matter ?'' She
said to him, "you know best," and without another ob-
servation on either side, the defendant kicked her vio-
lently in the abdomen, and attempted to repeat the
assault. . •
Police-constable 85, said he attempted to take the pri-
soner, who said he was sorry he had not killed the old
woman. He resisted, and struck police-constable 95 a
severe blow in the face with his left fist ; he struggled
and kicked, and swore he would yet give 95 a b-y
stick, which would stop his breath. The witness said
the prisoner had a check-lock key on his finger, and
pointed out from his closed fist at the time he struck the
constable 95, which, if it had struck him in the eye, as
the defendant evidently intended, it would have deprived
him of the use of it for life.

Police-constable 95 corroborated this witness.

The prisoner made no defence.
Mr. Loma said he would send him for one month to
the House of Correction for the assault on the police,
and he would fine him 51. for tke brutal assault on the
old woman, which he must pay, or go to the House of
Correction for two months.

THE THEATRES.
DRURY-LANE.
A new grand ballet, entitled The Wags of Wapping,
which has for some time past been drawing crowded
houses at the Academie Royale of Paris,- under the title
of Betty, was produced here last evening, fur the purpose
of introducing Mademoiselle Sophie Fuoco to the English
public in the character of the heroine. This is one
of those ballets which cannot fail to become popular in
England, because it is fuunded on a well-known plot,
and therefore the spectator can devote his whole atten-
tion to the development of the plot, to what Is going on
upon the stage, without distracting himself by attempt-
ing to make out the story: It is, in fact, a choreogra-
phic version of the comedy of Charles 11., and Betty,
is no other than our old friend Mary Copp, the niece of
Captain Copp, the landlord of the High Admiral, at
Wapping. Mademoiselle Sophie Fuoco originally sus-
tained the character, and created quite a furore on the
Continent. She will create quite as intense a degree of
enthusiasm on the English stage. She is very pretty,
has a faultless figure, great energy, most expressive
pantomime, and her style of dancing is perfectly
Elslerique. Indeed, she may be considered the legiti-
mate successor of Fanny Elssler. Her feet quite
twinkle as she performs a rapid succession of pas,
so rapid are her steps that the eye can scarcely
follow them, they are at times quite dazzling. Then her
tours de force are wonderful, but it is not until the pas is
over, and we have time to reflect on what has been done,
and to consider the wonderful muscular effort required
to accomplish what we have seen that we become per-
fectly aware of the perfection of the danseuse, for all is
done with so much ease, and so much grace, that all idea
of forco is for the moment lost. Her pas de deux with
M. Huguet (an admirable dancer, from the San
Carlo, who likewise made his debut last evening),
was the very perfection of the choerographic art. It
was quite equal to Elssler An her best days,
Her pas seul, which preceded it, was a most expressive
piece of pantomime, and the finale was astonishing for
its force, and delightful for its grace and elegance. Her
poses throughout were most classical. She was en-
thusiastically applauded throughout, and Mr. Bunn, to
whom we are indebted for introducing to us Lucile
Grahn and Flora Fabbri, has in Mademoiselle Sophie
Fuoco, secured a danseuse who, if we mistake not, will
eclipse all her predecessors on these boards. The
ballet was preceded by the new opera of Loretta,
whhih is running a triumphant career of full
success, and in which Madame Bishop last evening was
more brilliant and more exquisite than ever. It is to be
performed every night this week, and the energies of the
prima donna seem to increase with the calls which are
made upon them. Mr. Lavenu is certainly the most
fortunate of composers in having such -a prima donna to
create the character of his heroine.

HAYMARKEI.
Mr. Lester, from the Theatre Royal Manchester, made
his first appearance before a metropolitan audience in
the character of Vincentio d'Estella in Webster's musi-
cal drama The Little Devil. Mr. Lester is no other than
Mr. Wallach, junior, and it is impossible to see him
without at once recognising the likeness he bears to his
father. There are the same fine expressive features, the
same brilliant eyes, the same clear sonorous voice, the
same freedom . and grace of action for which
Wallack is so distinguished. lie is, however,
scarcely so tall as his father. his Vincentio
was a. very fine performance, more manly, more
thoroughly Spanish than that of Charles Matthews,
who originally treated the character. This gentleman
will prove a great acquisition, not only to the Hayatarket
Theatre, but to the metropolitan corps dramatique. We
, as the representative
oafntthiceiphaitgelig-breraedt ,thhiingghs sfpriormitedhigmentlernan of legitimate
comedy. His Vincentio was very good; but, if we are
not mistaken, his Charles Surface and his Benedict
will be much better. Ho will make all the cha-
racters of the Charles Surface school his own. It is
needless to add that his success was complete. The
Lisle Devil was preceded by Lovell's chef d'ceuvre, Look
before You Leap, and followed by Buckstone's farce, A
Kiss in the Dark. The house was very well filled.

BOW-STREET.—(THIS DAY.)
Daniel Davis was placed at the bar charged with
causing the death of Mark Colville, by carelessly driving.
The deceased was a porter in Hungerford market, and it
appeared that ou Friday evening last, he was crossing
Whitehall-place with a load on his back, when the pri-
soner, who was driving a ginger beer cart in Whitehall,
suddenly turning knocked him down, and the wheels
passed over his hf ad. He died since of the injuries, and
the prisoner bad been remanded from Saturday to await
the result of the coroner's inquest.
An inspector of police now informed the magistrate
that the coroner's jury had returned a verdict of Acci-
dental death, the evidence in favour of the prisoner
having satisfied them that he was not at all to blame.
He was accordingly discharged ; but before leaving the
Court, lie requested the magistrate would accept from
him a sovereign to be applied at his worship's discretion
for the use onhe unfortunate man's widow.

Mr. JARDINE considere.d the considerate conduct of
Davis highly creditable to him, and he (Mr. Jardine)

THE SUN, LOl4-DON, TUESDAY EV_ENING9 NOVEMBER 17,

LITERATURE.

THE NORTH BRITISH REVIEW. No. XI.

Seldom do we encounter in a single number of any
periodical so valuable and varied an assortment of
articles as are contained in the North British Review
for November. Every individual contribution would
constitute of itself an interesting and instructive
pamphlet. Throughout the nine papers contained in
this quarterly the truths of physical and abstract
science, the beauties of art and literature, the
loftiest doctrines of religion, and the , most hu-
manizing principles of social morality are in-
culcated, and they are inculcated in a manner
the most attractive and the most fascinating. The
style is always popular, without derogating from the
dignity of the theme, whether it be a deduction of
philosophy, or a passage from revelation. To give a
miniature synopsis of the contents, we may observe
that the reader will herein discover the following :
An inquiry into the antiquity of Christianity in
England, in a review of Dr. Lingard's celebrated
work upon " The Anglo-Saxon Church ;" a remi-
niscence of our ancient poetry, in a dissertation upon
" The lioxburghe Ballads ;" a delightful epitome of
the excellences of the Imaginary Conversations, in a
notice of " Savage Landor's Works ;" an elaborate
analysis of " Stirling's Philosophy of Trade ;" an
inquiry into the phases of " Scotch Nationality," as
evinced in the writings of Mr. Allen, and
of Sir Francis Palgrave ; a history of one
of the most charming of pictorial inventions
in a paper on " Engraving ;" a very one-
sided glance at the condition of Italian society in an
article on " Italy;" an extraordinary essay upon
the advantages, and an outline of the nature of astro-
nomy in a criticism upon the works of " Captain
Smith and Dr. Nichol on Celestial Objects"—and a
contribution, with which the catalogue terminates,
respecting " Religion in its relation to Politics."
After this enumeration we conceive that it will be
superfluous to say anything about the varied nature
of this publication. In gratitude and in justice, how-
ever, we must especially commend the intelligence
which is perceptible throughout. Besides this the
North British Review is usually characterised by an
enlarged and generous spirit ; it is utilitarian, in
the best signification of that term, without ever de-
generating into infidelity; it is bold and original in
its hypotheses upon contested problems, both scientific
and physical, without being extravagant or audacious.
As an excellent specimen of the description of writ-
ing introduced into this admirable quarterly we can-
not do better than instance the astronomical article
upon the recent productions of Captain William'
Henry Smith ' and 'Dr. J. P. Nichol ; it is aptly
christened " The Revelations of Astronomy."
Most cordially do we commend every individual to
peruse this paper, because we are satisfied that no
one can rise from its perusal without improvement ;
because to those who are ignorant of the marvels of
the heavens, as revealed by the telescope, and as sub-
sequently mapped out by Sir Isaac Newton and
other astronomers, it will afford a clear and compre-
hensive outline of those revelations ; and because to
those who are already familiar with the information
acquired by man of the forms and distances and
hues of matter, as scattered by God through space, it
will prove a refreshing remembrancer. The writer
is manifestly an adept and an enthusiast in this de-
partment of knowledge; he has studied that awful
and glorious scroll, written in characters of light and
vastness ; and in penning this article he brings with
him the stores of illustration accumulated by his
memory, while the wonderful truths which have
been latterly unfolded by the monster speculum of
Lord Rosse are introduced by him to the elucidation
of many difficult points. The reflections by
which his remarks are preceded are consonant
with the dignity and magnificence of the
truths of which they are preliminary. " How few
men," he exclaims, " really believe that they sojourn
on a whirling globe, and that each day and year of
life is measured by its revolutions, regulating the
labour and the repose of every race of being. How
few believe that the great luminary of the firmament,
whose restless activity they daily witness, is an im-
moveable star, controlling, by its solid mass, the pri-
mary planets which compose our system, and forming
the gnomon of the great dial which measures the
thread of life, the tenure of empires, and the great
cycles of the world's change. How few believe that
each of the millions of stars—those atoms of light
which the telescope can scarcely descry—are the
centres of planetary systems that may equal, if not
surpass our own ? And how very few believe that
the solid pavement of the globe, upon which they
nigh tly slumber, is an elastic crust, imprisoning fires
and :_forces which have often burst forth in tremendous
energy, and are at this very instant struggling to
escape,—now finding their way in volcanic fires—
now heaving and shaking the earth—now upraising
islmads and continents, and gathering strength for that
final outburst which is to usher in the new heavens
and: the new earth, ' wherein dwelleth righteousness.'
Wei e these great physical truths objects of faith as
well as deductions of reason, we should lead a better
life. :than we do, and make a quicker preparation for its
closE.:' It is because these truths are not sufficiently
prom tulgated ; it is because men are not sufficiently
a war e of the properties of matter, of the mysteries of
tl le -upper and the under world, of the results of geo-
Ic ,gical investigation, of the relations of the celestial
b dies ; it is because the vision of the majority is re-
st rieted to a most narrow and miserable circle in-
stk tad of scanning the profundities of the sky and
de. Icing into the depths of our mother earth ; it is
be :a use the people are taught more to regard the
adcer runents. and luxuries of temporal life instead of
looking more to the infinite and eternal, that so much
igiece 'ante, and vice, and shortsightedness, and frivo-
lity' ;still prevail, and that the mass does not appear to
have yet awakened to the cognizance of its great heri-
eag:e. Were the disclosures of astronomy, geology, and
clu en istry to be studied in lieu of what is falsely
re eaveled as a politer learning, we believe it would be
in finitely more advantageous to the cause of civilise-
tic an., and would tend more than almost anything to
the - ultimate regeneration of the human family. We
has 'E ' always endeavoured to insist upon this considera-
tion: whenever we have taken occasion (as we frequently
harm? done, and as we hope to do yet more frequently)
to ea moment upon the benefits accruing to society
frcras the labours of the Society for the Diffusion
of 1:1 seful Knowledge, from the annual assemblage
of tl he philosophers of the British Association,
and from the periodical meeting of the Manchester
Ath e nwum. Those laudable and enterprizing bodies
have: striven since their formation for the populariza-
tion ( ,f that knowledge which we have long regarded
as so> essential to the moral and intellectual improve-
ment of the people. Gladly would, we behold, for
ex: urn )le, the divine science of astronomy systema-
tin ei for the instruction of the multitude, and retailed
in , .ne r national schools of education. The neophytes
of tes Lrning might commence with an inquiry into
the. elata already collected in reference to eur own
(the ,= Solar) system; the forms, the colours, the rela-
tive r, distances, the bulk, and the periods of revolution
in *--.e thirteen globes as yet discovered revolving
roi rid the Sun—Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars,
Ce trs, Pallas, Juno, Vesta, Astrma, Jupiter, Saturn, I
Ur. rius and the new and yet nameless planet. From
thew, e he might advance to the more bewildering re-
gion s of space; he might follow the eccentric
orbit,: of the comets even beyond the verge
of . our particular system ; he might con
the : m ysteries of the awful interval of space between
the E,31 :tremity of our system to the nearest of the fixed
stars,, a space which is estimated at the appalling sum
of 214 000,000,000,000, "twenty-one million millions of
miles across in every direction upwards, downwards,
and as 'mind us!" He might thus turn to the contem-
pli%tio: a of the binary system of stars, the yellow star
re% 'oh ing round the purple star, the ash-coloured star
rev oh iing round the emerald green star. He might
reg ar d the hitherto inscrutable nebulre, those powder-
ings i )f light which had been poetically styled star-
dus' t, until the glorious telescope of Lord Rosse re-
sole -e6 l some of them, and by analogy, the remainder
into . clusters of remote orbs. He might discern how,
acct 3r ding to Sir W. Herschell, our system is advanc-
ing -t( swards a point in the constellation Herculis, at
tlue rt Lte of a tenth of a second annually, so that its
comrd ate revolution of its presumed orbit can
only be after a lapse of thirteen millions of
yews,. He might learn how Encke's comet moves
thromi ~ti space at the rate of 880,000 miles in
an hal tr, and how its heat was calculated by Newton
to be I 1,000 times that of red hot ii'on, so that it would
require : a million years to cool. He might hear,
among other astonishing things, I;hat it was believed
b; Olt ,ers and subsequent astron: Amer!, that the five
stars'. ' ituated between Mars and Jupiter, namely—
Ceres, Pallas, Juno, Vesta, and As luxe—are the frag-
mentst at t e
of a larger one, which had burst, and h h
had fallen at' intervals, are "the
meteor is stones which .
I, nieces projected from the. shivered planet."
lesser
He mig, ht see, as others have seen, . caverns in the moon,
In or ies in
y five miles in depth, ed f t .1 •
absolute\Would not these con sideratiyonsm tend to
diamete: ‘ •
iais -intellect, to elevate his sentiments, to
enlarge
e his self-sufficiency, nand. to render him
c pderat
and moral before so many' sublime manifesta-
-11% anble :
ti( )515 of Omnipotence ? We th iinle so. Sincerely
v .re tbiele so ; beyond all the polite:: kreewledge of hea-
.... hology andclassical lore. Among the various
then Ill.) ' at have been advanced-i !especting the pro-
theories ft,.
I able use e -
(
I( slowing is on. • .
eer employment of con sets, we think the
e of the most inge miens we have ever
comprised in ar single sentence in
,e ecountered. It le ..
tl lee excellent article : .
Tor-time of their orbits
`" judging from the initu ease
disposed to imagine
NI tilich lie beyond our vatem is placed in
t' lint the central bodysYlitein'ewee tahle.er . 9
of
swilie` and that in this
..r erbit-
t he distant, focus of each of t
~..6 ....4....i "verse are, as it
way all the different systems in
.u., ~,,,
munication of
the iuLVngit.
were, united into 0119 by
comts." •. - -ting bonds
That comets may thu serve as cermet, . planets
between all the varicees systems of suns anc, of it,
scattered throuet, space is,
, eiceedingler Tr.:, e
z ouable. Here again is a paragi. Kh
'.
frayso "- Ali the loftiest truth, and consonant wit.

all our ideas of the power and omniscience of the
Supreme Being. We commend the subjoined sen-
tences to the consideration of all those who conceive
that this globe is the only corner of the material uni-
verse inhabited by sentient creatures :
" The Being who created the earliest forms of life that
possessed our earth, was not likely to limit to so insig-
nificant a planet such a display of his wisdom and power,
and the same high purpose which prompted its succes-
sive changes as steps in the march of terrestrial organi-
zation, must hare operated in the preparation of the
planetary worlds. To believe that the earth was the
only place where organic life was given and taken away
—the only field where great physical revolutions were
in play, would be to detract from the wisdom and benefi-
cence of the Creator. To the laws of nature we dare
not assign either limitation or locality. Wherever there
is matter we may predict its laws and its elements, and
wherever are its elements, we may anticipate the exist-
ence of beings that are to use them. Wherever light
shines, there must be an eye to welcome it ;—wherever
air expands, there must be beings to breathe it,—wher-
ever heat vivifies, there must be life to be revived. The
God of nature neither works in corners, nor limits his
benevolence. Everywhere is matter—everywhere is
light, and everywhere there must bo life—life animal to
enjoy his bounty—life intellectual to expound his wis-
dom—and lire moral to love and to fear his name."

Yes ; "Everywhere is matter, everywhere is light,
everywhere must be life !" When we meet with a
publication conveying such glorious principles and
such elevating knowledge, and conveying it, more-
over, iu a form so popular and agreeable, we cannot
be niggardly in our expressions of commendation.
If the North British Review be issued every quarter
with contributions of equal merit with those con-
tained in the present number, and without the some-
what ungenerous tone of the paper upon " Italy,"
it will win for itself a golden recompense and more
than golden opinions.

TWO SYSTEMS OF ASTRONOMY. By Isaac

Frost.
That no misapprehension may result from the
wording of the foregoing title, we would immedi-
ately observe, that this book is printed and published
with the intention of contrasting two systems of
astronomy, diametrically opposed to each other.
One being no less illustrious than the, Newtonian
system—that magnificent scheme of the heavens,
divulged by the consummate genius of our great
philosopher, Sir Isaac Newton. The other is de-
clared to be a system in accordance with the Scrip-
tures, and is propounded by one Mr. Isaac Frost. At
the preliminary glance we were inclined to regard
this adventurous volume as a practical joke of the
richest and the loftiest description. Any one pre-
suming to question the great truths revealed by
astronomical investigation; any one having the au-
dacity to gainsay the united authorities of Kepler,
of Delambre, of Galileo, of Bradley, of Richer, of
Rvemur, of Laplace, of Newton, of Herscbell, of So-
merville, and their many illustrious associates; any
one daring in the nineteenth century to deny the
wisdom of past generations, the deductions arrived at
on the inductive system of philosophy and the ab-
solute assurances of centuries; any one we say venturing
to do this, except for the perpetration of a rather
hazardous jest, was utterly beyond our comprehen-
sion. Yet on saamining this remarkable book more
closely, we perceived that it was written in all ear-
nestness, and written, moreover, by a man who ap-
peared to be conscientiously convinced himself of the
justice of his scepticism in science, and of the accu-
racy of his conclusions. On the title-page we dis-
cover that the new system broached by Mr. Frost is
supported by evidence. We give the catalogue of
this evidence as advanced by the author :—" The pro-
phets, Moses and others, in the first testament ; our
Lord Jesus Christ, and his apostles, in the new, or
second testament ; Reeve and Muggleton, in the third
and last testament." Reeve and Muggleton in the last
testament I We suspect the reader will begin to con-
jecture the character of the undertaking. Chapter
VI. affords us a discourse between " John Reeve
and Richard Leader, merchant ; recited by Lodo-
wick Muggleton, one of the two last witnesses and
prophets of the most high God, the man Jesus in
glory !" When we have perused so far, the vapoury
foundations become discernible. Nevertheless, while
this book, from its very extravagance, is of a some-
what unprofitable nature, it is attractive and most en-
tertaining in connexion with the engravings which
are appended. These plates are most exquisitely
coloured, and most delicately pencilled ; they are il-
lustrative of the Newtonian system and of the (so
called) Scriptural system :—the planets with their
concentric orbits round the sun ; the earth the centre
of the universe; around it a firmament containing
the sun, moon, and stars ; beneath the kingdom of eter-
nal death and darkness; around the earth and
water under foot in heaven infinite in depth, length, and
breadth; immediately above the earth .a something
shaped like a funnel, and labelled Place of Ascension,
leading to " Heaven, the Residence of God, infinite
in length, breadth, and height, the Kingdom of Eter-
nal Life and Light." The date of 1846 at the bottom
of the title-page alone convinced us that we were not
perusing a work intended for another generation. We
can only inauire, how, in attempting to revive the
exploded darines of Aristotle and the peripaticians,
the author explains the accuracy of the calculations
of the Newtonian system of astronomy ?