Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-05
Our Rook-Table.


have received the following books:
Elements of Intellectual Philosophy, by Rev.
JoSEPH ALDEN, d. D. L. l.. D., late President
Of jefferson College.
There is a period in the life of every man
who takes an interest in the pursuit Of knowl-
edge, when he finds himself attracted to meta
physical studies. 1t is that period at which
the mind is being formed, trained and directed
by education. No man can be said to be edu-
Gated who has not bestowed a share of his at
tention upon metaphysics. The world is gov
erned by mind, and metaphysics is the science
of mind. To acquire a knowledge of the ca
pacities and operations of the human mind is,
therefore, am essential of education. But men,
tai philosophy not only mparts tous the knowl-
edge of our own minds and the minds of others,
but it trains us in habits of close attention,
nice discrimination and sober and accurate
thought. &" What can the mind do ?" and 80 how
does it do itt" are the twomain enquiries pro-
pounded, answered and illustrated by the book
before Us.
an Introduction to tie DsUotjoRal Study Of
the HOLY Scriptures. By EDWARD MYRIcE GorL-
nrRN, D. D., author of Thoughts on Personal
Religion. The merits OF this convenient vol
ume of l93 pages are attested by the fact that
il has run through seven London editions. The
present is the first American edition. 1t con-
tainS the substance of some sermons ON the de
yotioual study of the Holy Scriptures which
were delivered to the students in the chapel OF
Rugby School.
Principles Of E,iucatioN DrarR from Mature
ougi R,rethiou, and Apptei to Female Eiuca-
ton H tee Upper Classes. BY the author OF
E. Amy Herbert and other tales, " the First
History of Rome" &c. This is an interesting,
comprehensive aud well written volume of l76
pages.
Hpd u, Mature or, the origin Of life ana
TIE mode Of the Development Of animals. BY
HgNEY JAMES CLARK, y. b. B. s., adjunct Pro-
lessor of Zoology in Harvard University, Cam
bridge, Mass.
This is an elaborate scientific treatise of $22
pages, and is embcllished with over POO illus
trations 1t is beautifully gotten up. Thi'
book is one to be studied, not merely glanced
at. 1t appears, As far as We can judge, to be
valuable contribution to science.
Ra!iouaii,D, ID, Europe or, the history ofth'
rise and influence of the spirit OF rationaliSm
/ By W. Z. IL. LgCSY, NJ
As We Judge of the characters Of those We
meet by their countenanceS, SO we are prom,
/ to Judge of the merits of books by their intro
auctions. But there are few of US who have
not found by experience that it will not do t,
trust altogether to the countenance as guide
10 character. In the present instance We hay,
found. in the same manner, that the introduc
tion 10 a book is no uncrring indication as t,
| its merits. Never have We read more un
meaning, vague, obscure, tranScendental, sub
lim,ted and uninteresting Introduction than
that prefxed to " Rationalism in Europe
We were tempted to lay down the book with
out further examination, but resisting tn
temptation we glanced first at one page ant
then at another, at one chapter and then a
another, and soon found that we held IN on
hand the book Of a master. 1t is an able, wei
digested, well written, well-wrOught book, con
tanning much learning, and many intereSin
and illustrative facts, cited from every depart
ment OF human knowledge. The word IA
tionalism' has squint towards intidelity.
awakened our suspicion when it first met GU
eye. We halfway suspected that the two hand
e some volumes contained covert attack upo
the Christian religion-that their aim was I
place reason above revelation. We have No
found time to peruse these two volumes, bu
we have bestowed several hours upon them
, Something more, and more respectable, tina
, mere curiosity melted us to search into tn
= character of the work, and enquire, throug
its attractive pages, if it bore the stamp of tn
D Goddess ofReason." We were pleased whe
f our search ended without discovering the in
: press Of that unloved, unrevered mistress
the maddened French nation of former pr