Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-07-14
SHORT NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF UNIVERSAL PRoGREss Series
Of Discussions by HERBERT SPENCER New York:
Appleton 81 Co, 1864. Washington; Blanchard s.
Mobun s
FIRST PRINCIPLES OLA New SYSTEM OF Pm IosoPHY
BY HERBERT SPENCER. New York: ID. Appleton &
Co, 1864. Washington: Blanchard Il Mohun.
These works have to with much herading, de-
signed to procure for hcm the awarded to those
who make discoveries in the world of thought And
yet. with every disposition to recognise Mr.. Spencer
writer Of much acuteuess, not quite prepared
with Of his ndscreet admirers rank him with
totle and Bacon, as the founder Of new organon.
The frstLamed of the above entitled works is colec-
ton Of essays contributed to the English Reviews The
articles the Nebuar Hypothesis, and on Illogical
Geology, in this volume very interesting discussions
Of subjects Of the first interest in physical science The
papers Manners and Fashion, the Physiology Of
Laughter, the Development Hypothesis and the Use
Of Beauty full Of subtle observation expressed with
| rare felicity Of dction.
The second Of the productions abovenamed is the 6rst
volume Of series in which it is designed to unfold the
principles of Mr. Herbert Spencer's philosophy"
Ii ia divided into two parts the aim Of the rst being to
determine the true sphere of all rational investigation by
rightly discriminating between the movable and the un-
movable Of the second to elucdate aud apply the
fundamental principles of science in laying the basis of
true and positive philosophy. Readers who familiar
with the writings of Sir Wm. Hamilton and of Auguste
COmte will not lind much that new 10 them IN tho
writings of Mr. Spencer however widely bis method may
differ from that of either the Scotch French thinker
SPIRITUALIsM TESTED or the Facts Of its History Cias-
sifed and their in Mature perifed from 1nsient
and Modern Testimonics. BY GEO. W. SAMSON, ID. ID.
President of Columbian College. Boston Gould 81
Lincoln 1864 Washington: Shepherd & Riley.
We are glad find that edition Of this work has
been demanded by the public for it is of real learning
aud true merit the subject to which it relates sub
ect which in the hands of charstans has been made the
Of gross popular deluson and which il has been
for Of science altogether ignore though
the phenomena connected with il unworthy of serious
attention. In this treatise the esteemed writer, well
known among the learned President of Columbian
College, has colated the phenomena of "spirjtuslsm
called for the purpose Of showing that they have cause
in nature and at all peculiar to our land or times,
and have their recognised place in the history OF literature
To this portion of his work DIR Samson has broughta wide
range of reading in the literature OF both ancient aud
modern times.
The merit Of this production has procured for il the
HOMAGE Of the most enlightened nqurers in this branch OF
investigation, among whom may particularly sigpare
the name of Count Agenor de Gasparn we'll snown in our
country for his recent works the asDects of our war
and who his Tables Tournautes repeatedly pays the
highest tributes TO the learnEg and argument of DR..
Samson contained in ths volume before us We have
doubt that Dr. has here stated the rationale Of
the phenomena which are popularly known under the
much abused name Of "spiritaslism'