New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MARsHs MAN AND NATURE.
IAN AND NATURE; Or. PHYSICAL GFooRirBY 40 y
if,..~. l. Al.

Tho admirable contributors of Mr.. Marsh 70 The
science Of philology have given him an eminent po-
sition among living American scholars few oi cur
Writer'S have moro honorable reputation among
suteigeDt circles both Al home ahd abroad but IL
n only those who are intimately acquainted ~i'h
Shs Versatility and alcrtness Of his mind, the COM
ppekensive nature of las researches his. habits OF
seen observation, and tho depth and soNdty OF ms
sttanments in numerous branches of learning The
most remote from each other, that will be prepared
Or the rich store OK curious and valuable iniorna-
non, the mass Of facts relating 70 the phenomena
Of the material world, and the vein Of ingenious and
ssgaestiye speculation contained IN the present vol
pine. His purpose Is 70 furnish popular exposition
sfthe effects produced by human action on The phy-
ss conditions Of the globe, and IN The prosecution
OF tins subject he opens an Immense variety OF de-
taAs which If not altogether Of novel character,
lave never before been exhibited in such barmo-
mons order, and in their practical beann5 on ne
Psists which IT Is the design OF The "oTk Z" INNS
traie. Starting from the results presented ~
Humboldt, Ritter Quiet, and other leaders OF tAe
sew school OF physical geography, Mr.. Marsh eX-
tesds the scope of their aboTs and instead Of pur
ssssg the inquiry how far external physical c0ndi-
lions, especially the oonfguration Of the carths
snrfsce, and the distribution, outline aud relative
position of land and water, have influenced the
social progress of man, he revcrses the inycsiea-
Ssp and proceeds 10 determine the effects of mans
agency upon organized and unorganizcd matter,
and consequently upon the material structure oi las
earthly home. Hitherto this subject has been
treated only in an Incidental manner, and with
reSrence 70 certain limited fields Of human effort.
Indeed until after the recognition Of the influence
Of physical geography upon human life, there was
no motive for such inquiries. We must know how
our ewn being is affected by the character Of our
material habitaiion before we can TAX" an interest
In any questions relating % the influence which We
may exercise in return On our temporary ablding
pisse.
sseh is the problem which the author proposes TO
hh.seIf in the composition OF this work. He enters
upcn its solution with the exhibition Of certain i'm
pertant preliminary views founded Oh the compare
tive condition of the Roman territory at the present
Spe, and at the period of its signal natural adyan-
tages during the palTy days Of the Empire
At the epoch of its greatest expansion, the Ro-
man empire comprised the regions Of The earth
NEST distinguished by happy combination Of phys
iesl advantages. The provinces of the Mediieua-
nsan were superior to any terntoryo of like extent
tr either hemisphere in saubrty of climate, icFui-
ny Of SOIL and natural facilities for the exchange
OF products. Every material want was generously
supplied by the bounty Of the land and the To- ming
abundance of the waters. Gold and silver, If not
Snnd in modern pro1asion, were obtained in the
snare measure most favorable 10 uniformity Of
vsl.e from mines and riyer-beds. The precious
gems, the pearl. the ruby, the sapphire, the dia-
moad which formed the chief ornaments OF the
sarsaric pride of the East, were indeed scarcely
naive to the territory OF the Empire; but the softer
sesnes were enriched with engrayings by cunning
Artists. which invested the more common onyx
and carnean with a worth surprising the luster OF
tho most brilliant oriental jewelry.
The temperature Of the air, the relative disPosi-
ton Of lsnd and water the competition OF the soil,
and tho raw material of some Of the arts were
rrsiuitous blessings from the bengnant kindness Of
nature. Yet human effort was necessary to the iuh
peehzation Of the natural bOunties. Every loaf was
eaten as the fruit of toll. But toll was nowhere
else rewarded by so generous wages. The original
ypsducts Of foreign chimes were natursiized in new
homes They were gradually eDnobed by The art
Of man. Centuries Of untiring labor expelled the
Ven Of more generous growths.
The present physical condition Of those countries
preents a wonderful contrast More than one half
of their whole extent is either surrendered 70 Lopc-
loss desolstion or is at least greatly reduced both
n productiyeness and population. Vast forests
have disappeared from mountain spurs and ridges
Meadows once fertile are waste and unprodnciive,
because the waters that fed them are dued up
Rivers famous in history and song have shrunk TO
hnmble brookletc. The entrances OF narrow streams
IRE DISTRACTED by sandbars, and harbors and moI,s
Of az extensive commerce are shoaled by the de-
posi. of the rivers at whosa @Q9.A. .hey lie. The
elevation Of the beds Of estuaIies bas converted
thousands OF leagues " shallow sea aud fertile
lewland into unproductiye pestlentia InoIesses
With the exception of few favored cases that
escaped the general run The faires and most fruit
fnl provinces of the Roman Empire are thus COM
oleely exhausted of their fertility OF 50 diminished
In productiveness as to be no longer capable Of
,Eording sustenanoe TO civilized man.
This decay, although partly no doubt owing to
The irresistible action OF natural canses IS tie re-
NIT chiefly Of mans ignorance and neglect OF the
Avs Of nature, or an incidental consequence o!
rsr and Of civil and ecclesiastical misrule. Nan
sannot struggle at once agans. crushing oppression
and the destructive forces Of inorganic nature
When both arc combined against him he must sue
sumb, after longer OF shorter struggle. The fields
be has won from the primeyal woods relapse into
their original state Of wild and luxurisnt forest
growth, or fall into ths. Of dry epd bsuea wiider