New-York tribune., 1873-03-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
xxnasAs op IlPR Byw R. eRse. l2nN P W. ''"e' n
OsgoOd a Co.

Tho tona of This volume Ia singularly soft
ened down from the assertory, II not the oos'n"uo e
Of most Of the writer's previous productions is una"
er Ia experimental rather than positVe ueahns III Ae
.,vyestion OF probabilities instead Of the demonstration
NJ y,noines The author navey confesses that he has
a.aea the age Of speculative Illusions that his intel
letua vision II perhaps made clearer by the lapse ol
te DO longer possesses the confidence OF yonth anu
that he is now content 10 PROFOUND enigmas without %
,resumption OF succeeding in their solution HIS worn
An peryaded by undCr-eurrent OF faith int"o o""
ideas which he accepts without the attempt 70 proNo
,aeir validity He assumes the existence OF creator
and OF continued life beyond the grave pu' ho' ou '
ordinary Christian grounds nor from any pro0esS VI
philosophical reasoning. HIS apology tor thS couSo "
sennded ON helmpressions,o early education lie justly
remarks that the religious views in when we nave ~
Nropght mn inevitably color TO the last our modes o
sh.pght on Kindred subjects when every doc'ne
of our childish creed has been deprived OF us uoEu"
form aswe as fits original logical or author''
Beliefs that have dwelt long in the mnd ieaNe
traces of their residence after they nave oee" ~
lodged for years They linger with sort oi io'is
,aov in their old abode long after they have reoe'eu
formal notice 10 quit. II was the iot OF tne "O "
inherit from Puritan forefathers the strongest Impress
,ons on the great doctrines Of religion al une "noh
,he mind is most piabe as well as most tenacious
while be sees the weakness OF the Ioundatiou vi "
,hoae impressions were based be does not feel compeeu
10 throw up the possession on account OF Ia" III 'ne
old title deed He still cherisbes the behei IN Wise
and bepcfcent Creator and In renewed he herea'er
almost with the certainty of absolute conviction Hence
he permits his speeulatons on the problems ol INC oIn
IN the established grooves which have been worn IN hs
,ud nv its antecedept history long as no dOgmasn
A. INDUCED and liberation afforded TO any dlsproVa
bic polnt-But little space, however III TINS Voiune
devoted 30 elucidatOn Of religious questions Tue
theological notices are brief and imperfect The author
has no love for abstract discussion. but dwes from
nreference on topics Of q practical character. HIS
mind has 10 dOgmatic element and is even less addced
90 speculative inquiry than 10 ideal contemplation
He takes keen interest IN the problems OF recent ua'
respecting origin and destiny OF man, his capacity
for and the law of human development In
,he ,rooess Of ages The theories OF Mr. Darwin and
Herbert Spencer and other original thinkers In the same
direction have warmly enlisted his attention, ana are
made the subjects OF suggestive comment ana inference
One of the prime endeavOTs Of the author Is 10 40 ust
ce to the manifold and complex nature OF man. He n-
sists the conspicuous dev sOpmeu OF our bghes
faculties, than the harmonious and equal develop
ment OF all He respects the claims OF the physical or
ganzaon protesting against Its neglect through 'he
exclusive culture the understanding or the magma
ton as departure from the proper aim ana standard OF
human destiny The duty of man on earth is not the
highest development OF the individual but the perfec
ton of the race Nature placed impossible barriers
On our upward path she condemns the extreme cult
walton Of the intellectual and spiritual man by assigning
Disease as its inevitable consequence and condition. III
Is not her aim to make strong aud healthy frames into
acons or Goethes or to sanity into Xaviers.
Feneons and Bernardo bat to make all Eaen vigorous
and sane and true in the measure OF their just ca
paetes, not the exceptional Few 10 sui more
exceptional attanments, but TO bring thelmany to the
level of the few The author still further argues that
The individual man has already reached his highest
sbe attainmens He needs to be transpanted in order
20 excel Past He appears TO have reached his per
fection centuries ago. Men lived then who have not
been equaed since No sculptor has surpassed Phdias
aQn1lna fha
author Of the Book Of job No gander statesman than
Pericles has been produced in modern times. Bacon
was not superior Plato Newton TO Pythagoras or
Thales The problem OF the age, accordingly is the ee
walton OF the not to put our own SOUS lnto
ahothed but to place all felow-men in fertile and
Wholesome SOIL" Mr. Greg appears to be more familiar
with the designs Of Nature than is consistent with the
tnodesty OF science His reasoning virtually assumes an
acquaintance with the aggregate forces OF the Universe
He mapped out the functions and purposes OF nature
with precision for which he can show no authority
The intentions OF Nature after all only the facts or
exDerienee as exhibited in the elements Of organic
structure aud the properties Of life To what extent
and in proportion she favors the indvidual or the
race questions which have not yet been fathomed D
hupan intelligence Nor are the authors comparisons
between the eminent men OF different ages Dased on
solid know ledge Al best they matters OF conjecture
and inference IL is idle predict that the forces OF
Nature Will transcend the achievements OF tue
Past. The Universe may yet have scope FOR noDler
beings have hitherto peOpled It's domans anu on
the other hand far from certain that the race Is sui
destined to Outdo itself Its progress may be circular
and not forward, losing in point what it gains in
another At all events. no man has yet discovered the
secret OF Nature secret she has, and eontrasted with
the fact Of human ignorance Mr. Gregs eloquent deca-
NATION appears misplaced If not absurd sul his BOOK
is not without many attractive features To some read
.rs its very vagueness will have charm. The intenec-
tna atmosphere which they are brought is one OF
soft repose, they are enyironed with an aroma OF
dreamy sentiment. aud II the spectaclei of ipurping
clouds with which they are regaled is an Illusion II Is
certainly not without enchantment.
REPORT OF VI. MAIEZIEUX ON THE PUBLIC
WORKS or THE UNITED STATES.
TRAvAUx PUBLICs DIS ETATSUSIs DANERIQUE En- 1870.