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primaeval animals may be as certain as those of the palaeontologist in refe- rence to their structure. Again, as the psychical and moral are intimately associated, the theologian, too, has claims on past life. Physiology expressly indicates a connection between physical and moral law ; while Scripture as expressly declares it. And so an inquiry such as we have indicated, so far from being trifling or minute, interlaces itself with questions of the most momentous importance.
The existence of such organisms as a lion's paw or the jaw of a shart, so wondrously adapted for tlie purposes of rapine in a creation otherwise filled with evidences of the utmost benevolence, has led most natural theologians to conclude in the existence of an active principle of evil. This is strengthened by the statements of Scripture regarding the tree of know- ledge of good and evil, as well as the recognition by the Saviour, both in his miracles and in his didactic statements, of the power of the arch-enemy over physical nature. The evidences of death by violence in the geologic eras have given an additional importance to this inquiry. Did some dis- turbing moral element prevail in the old creations of the past ? is a question affirmed and denied by equally competent writers. The pamphlet at the head of this article is perhaps the best original exposition published in this country on the affirmative ; while the two works it specially combats — those by Hugh Miller and Paton Gloag — are the best representatives of the opposite side of the question. The learned German theologian Kurtz has perhaps most fully discussed this topic ; he shows that not only the past history of our globe, but also that of the whole universe, may be inti- mately connected with moral dynasties in which Satan and his angels mingled.
Mr. Gillespie affirms that geology can only bear witness as to the exist- ence of the carnivorous monsters of the past ; and that the theologian alone has the right to discuss the reasons why they were furnished with such implements of rapine and destruction. Hugh Miller, on the contrary, founding his whole argument of the ' Testimony of the Kocks ' on the doc- trine that the Mosaic creation is that referred to by geology, affirms that as all these past creations were pronounced *' very good," so these animals must have come direct from the hands of the Creator. Whether or not Miller has in this case departed from his usual philosophic style, our readers must judge. But to do this they must hear both sides ; and they will find in Mr. Gillespie's pamphlet ample material on a topic which will occupy more than it has done the thoughts of speculative men.
A Glossary of Miner aloqy. By H. W. Bristow, F.G.S., of the Geological Survey of Great !6ritain. London : Longman and Co., 18G1. The public waited a long time for this work, and it has proved worth waiting for. To have a cheap book is something ; to have a good book is better. But to have a book at once cheap and good is to have all we can desire of author or publisher. The preface opens by telling us it was undertaken to supply a want which the author had often felt— and, we may add, how many others? Having felt it himself, is fortunately, perhaps, one reason of his success in supplying the concise hand}-- manual which meets that want, and will make the stony road of mineralogy more easily trodden by future students. The work is arranged on the plan of a glossary or dictionary, with a capital introduction giving the general characters of minerals, followed by an excellent table of classification. The general characters of minerals of course are those which relate to external form and structure, and characters dependent on light ; these are divided
