of history is truly valuable. On the other hand, what is most distinctive in M. Buchez s theory the division of historical development into four great epochs originated by four universal revelations, of each epoch into three periods corresponding to desire, reasoning, and performance, and of each of these periods into a theoretical and practical age seems entitled to no higher commendation than that of being ingenious. (See Flint s Philosophy of History in Europe, 1, 242-252). M. Buchez next edited, along with M. Roux Laverne, the Histoire parlementaire de la Revolu tion Franchise (1833-38, 40 vols). This vast, laborious, conscientious publication is one of the chief sources of information regarding the early periods of the first French Revolution. There is a review of it by Mr Carlyle (Miscellanies), the first two parts of whose ovn history of the French Revolution are mainly drawn from it. The editors worked under the inspiration of a strong admiration of the principles of Robespierre and the Jacobins, and in the belief that the French Revolution was au attempt to
realize Christianity.M. Buchez gave a general exposition of his views in his Essai d un Traite complet de Philosophic ait, point de vue du CatJiolicisme et du progres (3 vols. 1839-40). Perhaps the fundamental doctrine of this treatise is that the primi tive, intellectual, moral, and religious ideas of men cannot bo adequately explained as innate, or as derived from sensation, sentiment, or reasoning, but must have been imparted by divine revelation. It is substantially iden tical with the fundamental doctrine of De Bonald, although Buchez infers from it democratic instead of theocratic consequences. Great prominence is given to the concep tion of progress which is attained by generalization from a comprehensive survey of geology, physiology, and his tory. The author sets very distinctly before himself also the aim of organizing the sciences into a single compre hensive system. This he thought could only be accom plished through an a priori synthetic method, and not, as had previously been attempted, by the analytical and ex perimental method. It was partly owing to the reputation which he had acquired by these publications, but still more owing to his connection with the National newspaper, and with the secret societies hostile to the Government of Louis Philippe, that he was raised, by the Revolution of 1848, to the presidency of the Constituent Assembly. He speedily showed that he was not possessed of the firmness, decision, and political capacity needed in a situation so difficult and in days so tempestuous. He retained the position only for a very short time. After the dissolution of the Assembly he was not re-elected. Thrown back into private life, he resumed his studies, and added several works to those which have been already mentioned. A Traite de Politique, which may be considered as the com pletion of his Traite de Philosophic, is the most important of the productions of the last period of his life. His brochures are very numerous and on a great variety of subjects, medical, historical, political, philosophical, & He died in 1865. He found a disciple of considerable ability in M. Ott, who has advocated and applied his principles in various writings, the most recent of which, perhaps, places the metaphysical theory of Buchez in as favourable a light as it can be seen under.
(r. f.)
BUCHU or Buka Leaves are the produce of several shrubby plants belonging to the genus Barosma (Nat. Order, liutacea^), natives of the Cape of Good Hope. The principal species, 1L crenulata, has leaves of a smooth leathery texture, oblongo-ovate in shape, from an inch to an inch and a half in length, with serrulate or creuulate margins, on which as well as on the under side are con spicuous oil cells. The other species which yield buchu are B. seivatifolia, having linear-lanceolate sharply serrulate leaves, and B. betulina, the leaves of which are cuneate obovate, with denticulate margins. They are all, as found in commerce, of a pale yellow-green colour ; they emit a peculiar aromatic odour, and have a slightly astringent bitter taste. Buchu leaves contain a volatile oil, to which evidently their therapeutic influence is due, and ore said to yield a bitter extractive principle, which has received the name of diosmin. The leaves of a closely allied plant, Empleurum serratulum, are employed as a substitute or adulterant for buchu. Buchu leaves are chiefly used in European pharmacy in inflammatory disorders of the bladder and urinary organs ; in the United States they are much employed by vendors of secret medicines. An infusion of the leaves ia tonic, sudorific, and diuretic. At the Cape buchu has great reputation in gout and rheumatism, and as a stomachic stimulant ; and in the form of buchu brandy and buchu vinegar it is applied as an embrocation in sprains, contusions, and rheumatic pains.
BÜCKEBURG, the capital of the principality of Schaumburg-Lippe, is situated at the foot of the Harrl- berg on the River Aue, about 6 miles from Minden, on the Minden and Hanover Railway. It has a castle surrounded by a park, a gymnasium, a normal seminary, a library, an orphanage, a synagogue, and three churches, one of which has the appropriate inscription, Keligionis non structiircn exemplum. The first houses of Biickeburg began to gather round the castle about 1365 ; and it was not till the 17th century that the town was surrounded with walls. Popu lation in 1871, 4686.
BUCKINGHAM, County of, Buckinghamshire, or Bucks, an inland county of England, between 51 25 and 52 10 K lat., and 28 and 1 12 W. long., is bounded N. by Northamptonshire W. by Oxfordshire, S. by Berk shire, and E. by Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Middle sex. It is the thirty-third in size of the English counties, measuring 53 miles at its greatest length and 27 at its greatest breadth, and containing, according to the last ordnance survey, 467,009 acres, or nearly 730 square miles. The aspect of the country is agreeably diversified by the distribution of forests, rivers, hills, pasture, and arable land. In the southern portion of the county the forests, consisting chiefly of beeches (from the Saxon name of which tree, boc, the county is said to derive its name), were at one time very extensive, but have of late years been greatly thinned; woods of considerable extent are still to be found in the northern parts. The principal rivers of Buckinghamshire are the Thames, which separates it from Berkshire and Surrey, and receives as tributaries the Colne and the Thame ; and the Ouse, with its tributary the Ousel, which belongs to the north of the county. The only hills .in Bucks worthy of mention are the Chiltern.s which cross it in a north-westerly direction, and rise at two or three points to the height of about 900 feet. Of the roads which pass through the county the most important are that which connects London with Chester and Holyhead, by which the mails were forwarded to Ireland before the introduction of railways, the great western road connecting the metropolis with Bath and Bristol, and the roads to Oxford and Birmingham. The only canal of any importance is the Grand Junction, from which branches proceed to several of the larger towns. The London and North-Western Railway passes through the north-east of the county, and the Great Western through a small part of its southern extremity, while minor branches belonging to both these systems afford ready communication between the more important places. The principal junctions are Prince s Eisborough, Aylesbury, Verney, and Bletchle} .
different parts of its extent. Tho vale of Aylesbury, lying
between hills on either side, is one of the most fertile and