New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-16
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TO, r,,,, op,crN 1Nn DESTINY OF MAN.


senting singular union of waters sometimes spark
ling in crystal purity sometimes turbd with the ac-
sumulatiOns of SOIL bearing confused specimens OF
every mountain and every valley, but always abound
ing in golden sands and precious relics. Mr. Lesley
Is well known in the field of physical science as a
thinker of rare acumen and untiring vivacity, pa
tent and accurate explorer, with store OF curious
fthe-way knowledge in various branches OF III
curry which would suffice an outfit for dozen
professors but combined with vein OF enthus-
ssm, and love of erratic expression, when must
call forth the suspicion of his more podding leho"
labOrers, and, in respects, give INN the chalac
Ter of a scientific hgh-tlyer.
The present volume is burdened with an embarass-
ing profusion of intellectual wealth. 1t is almost
entirely destitute of clear and exact statements OF
principles; its method is desultOry and entanged;
the main point of discussion is often lost sight OF IN
the multiplicity of illustrations and episodes; but
though no firm and satisfactory conclusions are set
forth, the work is alive with original and pregnant
suggestions and often startles the reader with its
bursts of imprisoned elOquence. Its looseness OF
form is doubtless owing in part to the circumstance
that il was first prepared a course of lectures be-
fore the Lowell Institute; it written at dis
tance from the authors notes and library; and has
since been modified by the introduction OF new mat
ter without much regard to orderly arrangements so
that he himself regards his book merely as a
series of familiar conversations upon the current
topics of interest in the scientific world"
OF the eleven lectures which compose the volume
emily four are expressly devoted to the subject an
nounced on the tite-page, treating of the geological
antiquity of mar, 1.-The dignity and unity of mankind
and the early social life of man.
With regard to the first of these topics Mr.. Lesley
dscaims all appeal to the decisions of the science
falsely so called" theology. In inQuiring into the
antiquity of man, we must make up our minds to
part company with the schoOmen; there Is no ALI
anee possible between modern science and Jewish
theology; they are irTeconcilable enemies; geology
IN its present advancement can no more be brought
into harmony with the Mosaic cosmogOny than with
the Gnostic the Yedic or the Scandinavian. 1t has
fully escaped subsection to the Creed, and BIOLOGISTS
have won the right to be Christians without first be-
coming Jews
After describing the researches and discoveries on
the subject Of organic remains 10y Dr. auckland,
Journal and Chrisa Dr. Schmerling, and, above all,
BoHcher DIES Perthes the author arrives at the con-
clusion,-which represents the growing sentiment
of the whole geological wOrld,"-that the human
race has been upon the earth for hundreds and thou
sands of years.
With regard to the dignity of man, and his relation
TO the lower animals Mr.. Lesley is not inclined to
dOgmatize although he strongly favOrs the doctrine
of development, OF evolution as set forth by that
clear, wise, gentle writer of our day, Herbert
Spencer" Darwin Huxley and other prominent
"new lights" in the scientific armament. He DIS
cusses the details of comparative anatomy winch
bear upon the question, and concludes with one of
his bold rhetorical flights.
When we notice the intelligence of the dog and the
from man. and see how they manifest the possession Of
the moral faculties, displaying they do the sense OF
shame OF Justice OF loyalty, OF compassion we uu out
how little distance our reasoning can gO how Imperfect
our data, how mysterious are the functions al an
bran matter, now temperate VIC ought 70 DC ~
ing convictions in regard 10 the relationship OF man 10
ether animals how sound and high our hope OF seu-
provemen should become and what grandeur resides in
the Apostles words" forgetting the things that are be
Here as many other similar cases. science is en-
tirey faut-Rasselas sitting at the foot of the wall
that surrounds his happy valley. think L can see
seyeIoned monEey But what of thatl Shall a wise
nm I'm bnsef' for shame because his ancestor ten
generations back removed, was hang for felony Whal
danced their devish orgies round shrekiDg victims set
fire in towers OF wlckerwork making night lldeOuS
ana the angels hide their faces in pity horror and disgust
confess for my part aside from all considerations
of actual science. Ike 10 every tub stand upon us
own bottom This pride of civilization seems TO me the
pride Of parvenus II mankind originally apes,
they have at all events acquired the rght TO be SO no
longer The apeke skull Of the stone age has been re
placed by the skull of the poet the philosopher ana the
statesman. Let us he satisfied; Christ has come only
wish That could present before your eyes as WorIy
close train Of thought tonight picture OF some
aboriginal OF stone ana tnel III divine
contrast humHaIng uglness and base brutality y
copy OF that immortal statue Of the highest type OF man.
the Christ OF Dannecker see you love, IKE tne Old
Greeks 10 adorn your city, aud honor your great men
with statues why have yOu not INDUCED yourselves III
the joy of having always before your eyes the wonder OF
the age-the greatest Of the greatest Being OF all
ages ST. Petersburg has obtained copy OF IT in marble
Why should Boston he behind st. Petersbugl IT worth
An annual pilgrimage to stuttgart TO Dehod IT, sueh
majesty! such tendeness such intellect aud wisdom in
the brow and facet Such grace and beauty in the FORM
through the flowing roDe OF more than mortal
size, II seems no more than manonO less tha all the
blessed gospels say OF him! the flower Of the long de-
VelOpment! the very incarnation OF the Deity.
After dispOsing with more OF less distnctness, Of
the main points relating to the unity and early social
life of the human race Mr. Lesley considers the sub
ject of language, the origin of architecture the
growth of the alphabet, the four types of Telig-
ions worship, and Arkite symbolism. We quote the
following passage from the lecture on architecture
showing the rich poetca ances of the writer which
so often crop out in singular juXtapOstiOn with the
details OF science
The last and fourth theory Of the rise Of architecture
which need mention is still more local in It's Application
than the preceding and therefore general theory stu
less acceptable supposes that the nst idea OF grand
architecture came from the woods from Overhanging
trees forming long lofty vas to the eye closed at the
further end with incraeHg bOughs and leafy tracey
Behold Gothic church See how its piers arise on either
hand like mighty trees See how the ribs meet over
headl See the west window with us hundred mulhons
What can be evident than that the architect had
0d the forest aise and built them DER again IN stone
1t pity retire from such phantasy. Nor need
The last Of all architecture must not only include all that
wet before IT, bat involve new elements of beauty The
FFeemasOns OF Germany and France were prncehke
poets and they introduced into the grim conventional
randeurs OF the Egyptian art and into the cold perfect
chastity OF Grecan art sweet humOrs and warm blood,
fresh from the heart OF nature. They Christians
while their Grecan ancestors were Pagans; ana the Old
Egyptian f0rerunners Of all dwelers In the tOmbs
They broke up the massive piers into reedy clustered
columns and shot their branching tops INTO mid-ar to
meet in punches OF foliage They covered mp the faces
of the damned old gods of the bOxshaped capitals with
leaves and flowers so that the tender bosOms of their
children might heave with terror they passed them
by In advancing toward the altar where the Lamb OF
God was taking away the sips Of the whole world They
let into the dark old tombA Ike temple all the heaven OF
beams; aud painted the cleresory with universal rain
bow promising by all the angels SAINTS, and martyrs IN
ose wNo2Ws that wrath sDoYo De iofg4Ittem ti