Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-05-09
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE Rocks; or Geology IN
its Bearings the Teologie, Natural and Revealed
By HUGH MILLER. With Memorials of the Death and
Character of the Author. Boston: Gould s. Lincoln
1857.
If this long-promised work of its lamented author
had fallen somewhat below our expectations, the
memory of his tragica and untimely end, well as
of his former services in the cause of science lite
rature and religion, would have been all too fresh
and poignant to admit the indulgence of harsh and
earping criticism But, when to the natural pathos
inspired by the recollection that we have perused
the last of the brilliant treatises which the world
nav expect from the fertile brain and cunning hand
of the writer is added the keen perception that it
betrays no abatement in the natural force of his
splendid intellect. we can only contemplate with
deeper regret the loss we have sustained, and dwell
with lingering interest on the pages which contain
the last words of one who, an example of conse-
Grated genius, was equally blessing and an orna-
ment to his race
The volume before US, to use his own language,
I" is chiefly taken up in answering to the best of
the authors knowledge and ability, the various
questions which the old theology of Scotland has
been asking for the last few years of the newest of
the sciences In other words it is an essay at the
reconcilement of Scripture and Geology eompa-
rison between the genealogical revelations of Moses
and the testuony of the rocks read in the mute
but expressive records of the old Red Sandstone, or,
lower down STILL on the tables of stone which, in the
Slurian system, compose the first and earliest OF the
geological yolumes.
The ain which HUGH MILLER proposed to him.
self vas noble one, and nobly has he acquitted
himself of the task assumed; and yet we cannot
Danish the intrusive thought or disguise from our
selves the reluctant conviction that the work, with
all It's present and immediate interest, is destined
Ib,rtro
to what Dr. Hitchcock has called the Religion of
Geology" For it is not until geology shall have
co-ordinated its latest and final discoveries into
scientific system which shall be teres otqe rotundus
in its perfected development that its last words can
be pronounced respecting the structure of the globe
and the progress of discovery has thus far seemed
to necessitate from time to time new theory of
biblical Interpretation to meet the contemporary
s'sa81 ae ~ A.c faer so We see no reason to sup
pose that the solution oIGcrcd oy Ri-YI;lla rvill
not in the light of further researches, be found ca
gable of amendment, if not destined to be entirely
superseded by new rationale of scrptural exegess.
While, therefore, the science of geology is yet
in an imperfect and plastic shape, greatly ques-
ton the proprety of bending the text of Scripture
into forced and unnatural conformity with ever
changing body Of doctrine. We are of those who
believe that the holy book has nothing to fear from
the book of nature and that, in the end, the CON-
munity of their authorship will be read in only
clearer lines by the light they shall mutually shed
each upon the other, and both together upon the
character and perfections of their Great Original.
We have but little respect for that hesitating Gre
dence and valetudnarian pietism which trembles at
every thrust of the geoogists spade and is smitten
with nervous chill at every blow of his hammer.
We suppose there are @ doubling Thomases," whose
faith in the Penteteuch would be strengthened if
only Mr.. STANLEY or DR.. ROBINSON had luckily
succeeded in fishing up from the bottom of the Red
Sea chariot wheel or two of the Pharaonic era,
and which had evidently lain embedded in the
sands of that historic spot since the fatal day when
its