New-York tribune., 1872-04-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS.,


attract attention the production of an accomplished
amateur who at an advanced period Of life. oilers te
fruit OF his reflections certain conspicuous Ihouci
theories The first part OF the work Is taken MP win
Discriminating analysis Of the respective eharAceIiSu
Of the two sciences 10 which it is devoted In point Oh
date they differ as widely rs possible. Astronomy %
one Of the Oldest geology the youngest In the whoio
circle Of tho sciences They relate to different perou W
tme Geology is essentially Retrospective soc"Vo, ~
never looks forward, hut traces the former coHu0n
Of the earhs surface through the obscuily o. o r0
Rp astronomy exists in the present and VIII DC Win us
a, tre f,tu-e The nature OF the proof on when
.bo, rcst Il another marked distinction between
the two sciences Astronomy rests upon Vhe t"Vlolu
basis Of observation and pure mathematcaI rehsohoS
Geology stands on a narrower basis, deriving no sup
mort from pure mathematics II rests upon Imperfect
conjecture in regard state of things which has passed
.wsv and which can afford no data for mathematical
Investigation. The whole solar system everywhero eA
bihits kitty and uniformity OF law the vast mechahis
works in obedience 20 common principle; each part s
consistent with every other; no symptom OF variation
,ro the mighty plan can he detected. The earth, con-
,idered of the planets belongs to tns common
.yftem; and strictly obcys oil It's laws. Geology re-
verses the leading principle OF the astronomical oru'r
FNy governs the one change the other Geology does
not contemplate the earth In its relation 10 the ouoI paw
Of the system but traces its history In the vesges "ch
are accessible the researches OF man. FROM the re
,earcbes OF geology the author concludes that life is
tho principal object Of the Creators care Inc material
framework in which is set ia subordinate to the pur
pose it's gradual development and ultimate perfection
In the second part of his work. the author ntmates That
MS views with regard the progress OF organized life as
indicated by geology are iIrcconcieable with the
theories which have recently been presented to the
sccnifc world by Mr.. Darwin. OF the eminent claims
Of that distinguished naturalist 10 respect LoTd Ofma
thwaite opnon comedies with that OF every intelligent
student OF the natural sciences He recognizes tne cA-
tent of his knowledge and his profound acquaintance
With the whole subject Of Zoology. But he cannot admit
the soundBcss his reasoning when he attempts 10 ua'e
all advance organic forms 10 the principle OF eNoi'
ton or the spontaneous action or intrinsic properties
II he admits the agency of intelligent fist cguse the
complicated dement's OF Lis machinery, his natural
selection his sexual selection ana evolution are only so
many additional difficulties in the work accomplished
by the Deity. IL lie excludes all reference to the III
tcliccut first cause, then this chain OF totally
distinct organizations issuing out OF one another be-
comes quite ineomprehensibe. Nor, in the opinion ot
the author Mr. Darwins system sustained Ivy the evil
dence Of fact He supposes that in an incacuabe num-
Der Of ages organism gradually melts into anothcr
but he nowhere points out an instance OF such Trans
formatiou-Thc author also has larce 20 break with
thc late Mr Buckle while according ful Justice to his
Iarc talent and originality Of thought. Mr. Buckle In
his vicw was too fond Of laying down some absolute
rule 20 W. ch the whole history Of man should conform
His theories respecting tie aspects OF Nature lie pro
nourc,s 10 bc unsouud and visionary. In common with
Mr. Darwin. le often seems 10 Ignore II he does not
acnv the existence Of first cause, explaining the
,prircs Of motion by secondary principles. But this
tendency modern science and in modern religion TO
diverre from each other. the author maintains,
Is greatly to be dCIlored Religion, he remarks,
r. poshaps inclined 70 become narrow, exclusive, dog
matte and pocmca, whilo in science there is dspo'
son 10 reduce religion to cold abstraction IN place OF
4 warm and living sentimCnt.-But the problem OF
reconc otcu these two potent forces In the
constitution and history of man finds but feeble all
towards solution In the present volume The noble
writer Of It is evidently man or more than common
Intelligence and cultiyatlon without eyncng the
slr> II truly scientific mind. he is abreast Of the
science of the age be has extended his studies over
Wide field Of inquiry; his reflections are marked by
ser,all air of good breeding AID good sense but he
gives 10 dence of the habit Of patient observation,
~ the roN cr Of subtle analysis which distinguishes the
man Of science from the cultyacr Of lttteT' His book
accordingly, cannot he consulted as an authority
uor.I 81 may be taken up as recreation Ia spite or
tle elegance Of dct!ou, and the bandnoSs Of it,
ton. u i- essentially notlins bat piece Of polished
commonplace.
l>sgLRs TO PRAYER; OR DORornRA TRUnsL i2mo. rp.
ls3. Henry Ioyt
The discovery of the ancient lakc-dwellings
n various parts of Switzerland has scarcely excited
moro curiosity within the last few years than the
wonderful healing OF sick persons in answer 10 special
I1lfer 10y simple rustic maiden named Dorothea
T4ilel the of these marvellous events here
gwen we may find o singular chapter iu the history OF
tho dctsle OF Nature" or OF whatever category OF
the obscure borerand which the reader may choose
g. place IT, The little village Of Mdnnedorp lies on the
eorc Of the lake of zurich. embosomed by the verdact
HIS that fringe the lake. 1t is mere cluster Of few
houses with pleasant view n'every direction the
Iuc water almost beyond the reach Of the numerous
villas that ATE 6prinkled over both sides Of the lake.
This was the native place o DorOthea Trdel who grew
ap excellent character with strictly religious habits
Uu the acc Of twenty-five her life had been OF ex
lrna deyotlOn 10 religion, but at that time she pro-
fcscad haC conversion
tnd 20 have led by the Holy Ghost into the liberty
o. the children Of God. Her character became
uarked ~ great earnetncss by profound passion for
religious knowledge. and by singulary quiet,
bapPy, and modest Christian spirit. She was
worker in flowers, In which pursuit she
,ame time TO have workers under her. When she
about thiry-seven years old, four fve Of these
workers fell SICK; their sickness resisted all treatment,
aud regarded hopeless During this period, the
passage from the Epit OF James in regard TO the cure
Of the sick by prayer flashed upon her mind like sud-
Gen ht She knelt down by the bedsideof her patients
and prayed for them They at once recovered and this
fact a new direction to her life sickness broke
put In the village her tender and helHu spirit made
her ot great request, and she sought the recovery
OF the patients by prayer alone. Her fame as O
healer spread far and Her door besiegcd
by crowd Of sufferers en;reatng be taken into her
house. She reluctantly consented at first out OF
passion. when the sick had been brought from dis
,ance and could hnd shelter she turned them away
By degrees compelled to enlarge her premises
her days spent in constant prayer patients
rom France and Germany and even from Great Britain.
Hundreds Of authenticated wrought although
In some cases the force Of prayer appears TO have
been entirely efectual One instance is given Of the
fure Of q stiff knee that had been treated In
vain by the best physicians in France, Germany, |
and Switzerland. The lame were often enabled |
10 throw away their crutches cancer and fever |
were treated with success; epilepsy and insanity |
a Tha