Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-06
NEW BOOKS.

The WORLD BEFORE THE DELUGE, by Louis
Figuier. New York: D. Appleton & Co.
One of the most interesting and instruc-
tive works ever issued in this country on
geological subjects is a reprint recently made
bv Alessrs. D. Appleton * Co., of the work
of Louis Figuier. Mr. Figuier, as our
readers are probably aware, is native Of
France, and as early as 1855 made quite
sensation in the world of scientific literature
by issuing a work in three volumes, emit
tleed an Exposition and History Of
the Principal Modern Scientific Works.
Since that time no writer Ia Europe
has been more admired, and no one whose
works have met with such ready sale, This
work of his before us entitled The World
before the DelUgG, is one Of great scientific
research and shows the analytical and syn
thetical qualities Of Mr.. Figuier's mind,
Unlike most Of his C9untTymen, Mr.. FL
guier is perfectly orthodox in his religious
views, and the most pious man or woman
can read this work without having their
minds shocked by atheiStical doctrines.
The object of the work is to trace the pro-
cressiye steps by which the earth
has reached its present development
From the time when 1t was "WILhout
form and void, and darkness was upon the
face of the deep" the successive phases
through which the earth has passed have
been considered. Beginning with descrlp-
ton of the globe as It fOated in space IN a
state Of gaseous nebulOsity, upheld by the
hand of OmnipOtence alone, it traces first
the condensation of the gaseous elements
into LIQUIDS and then the raiual sOiiihca-
ton of the oOzy surface. The internal
aqitations and disturbances, the breaking up
and elevation of the yielding and plant sur
face by the fiery sea imprisoned within the
crust, are graphically depicted. The out
side rind, through many perturbatonS
gradually acquired sOlidity. GeOlO-
Cical cataclysms become less
! frequent as the crust increased in thickness.
| Organic creation then begins. The forms
of life become more complex and more per
feet with each advance in the progressive
phases of the surface of the earth. First
! the lower order Of plants, then animals rs
| ing in the scale Of superiority until the close
| of the Tertiary epoch. At this period the
! continents and seas assumed the limits
/ which they now present. But few earth
! 0uakes were felt. Tie cracks aud assures
/ closed no. Rivers flowed between tranquil
/ banks. An abundant vegetation clothed
! the earth with living green and perennial
| beauty. Animals spOrted in the translucent
waves, rOamed through tangled forest or
! winged their flight through ETHEREAL space.
/ But the greatest event was not yet achieved.
| The crowning glory Of creation was yet to
! be made. No being, Gs yet, had been ere
ated with the instincts and powers OF ado
| ration. No being had been created to COM
| prebend these marvelS and give thanks to
/ The CreatOr-With q soll uplifted and form
! inc a connecting link between the creature
| and the creator. Then God made mana
! being with the peculiar faculty Of 0bStrdc-
| ton SAYS the great naturalist and phllOSo-
! pler, Isidore GeCfroy Saint-HilaiIe: lie
/ pIaut Tires. the animal tires aud feels, man
! tires. feels and Thinks By his powers OF
| Thought and abstraction he conceived the
! ideal and realized pOesy. By these he cOnerlV-
/ ed the infinite and diScOUered mathematics.
| This is the distinction between men and
/ brutes-the one comprehends the infinite
aud the ideal and feels within him the
| promptings Of higher nature; the other
! may think. and even reason, but it Is all OF
earth. No promptings Of higher nature
| control the actions Of the brute and man
! becomes allied to the brute just as he
neglects his higher nature.
oman" then. concludes the author, 'came
! from the same source whence originated
the first blade Of grass, which grew
upon the burning rocks Of the
| Siberian seas. He emana'ed from the SJI-
preme will of the author Of worlds which
constitute the universe This whole work
is one of deep interest, and we would advise
! all cur readers who have taste for science
to read it. The present edition has been
revised by II. w. BristOw, F. Z. 5, Z. [.
I :. of the Geological Survey Of Great
Britain and has 235 illustrations. For sale
by Messrs. W. T. Berry & Co, Nashville.
THREE CENTURIES OF ENGLsH LIEEEATUEE,
! by Charles Duke NOngr. New York: u. Ap-
! plctOn Il Co.
Prof. Yonge is the author Of many works
which enjoy high reputation, and his view
of English literature is a comprehensive
one, taking in the three centuries in which
a literature distinCtively English may be
said to have been in existence. With each
critiuue there is a specimen of the style Of
the writer, aud sketch of his life. Ex-
tracts of considerable length are
given from the representative authors
who have built up the past and present
of English literature. Prescott and Motley
we perceive, he groups with Macaulay,
There is no decided attempt, under this
pIan. to have a direct chronological arrange
ment. The book will prove a very useful
and entertaining guide and introduction 10
beginners in the study Of Literature. The
| authors canons of criticism are sound, and
his judgments are in accordance with those