Imatges de pàgina
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speculation does not flow as a legitimate sequence from the facts. It is as unwise as it is unphilosophic to condemn science on account of the speculation to which it has given rise. It was with deep regret that we met with the following passage in an otherwise able paper by Sir David Brewster. "Captain Smith, as most of us had previously done, till they became the basis of mischievous speculation, has adopted all the extravagant ideas about nebulous matter and its condensation into stars; but while he styles the nebulæ chaotic rudiments under active arrangement advancing towards organization and beauty,' he neutralises this opinion by the confession that nature has yet to be caught in the fact of condensing the phosphorescent or self-luminous matter diffused through certain regions of space into future systems, according to the plausible argument of Sir W. Herschel.'" Here Sir David acknowledges that he had supported the nebular hypothesis, and that his ground for abandoning it was the fact that it was made the basis of mischievous speculations. In controversy, the disputants too often act on this principle, but it is seldom that they make a confession of it, and still seldomer that they actually vindicate the principle. Fortunately, Christianity does not need such a line of defence. She can dispense with anathemas, and in the field of science grapple with her opponent, and she has gained new accessions of strength by every onset. If the nebular hypothesis is to be abandoned, let it be abandoned on grounds worthy of a Christian philosopher.

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Sir David evidently refers to the mischievous speculations of the Vestiges," in which the nebular hypothesis is adopted to prop up a godless materialism, but he must have known, that it was long before employed for the same purpose-that Laplace so keenly advocated the theory that he might expel God from his works. But he employed the theory of gravitation for the same purpose-would Sir David abandon it also? After stating the ground of his relinquishment, he urges a legitimate objection, viz., that the actual process of condensation was never observed; but Sir David must have known when he supported the theory that no one ever pretended to have caught a glimpse of this process, that the condensation was always a matter of inference, not of direct observation. This weak point is not available, therefore, to Sir David, as a ground of objection. It must be observed, however, that on purely scientific grounds, the hypothesis has been losing weight. No doubt, the a priori basis on which Laplace placed it, remains the same as the laws of mechanics are unalterable, but the supposed corroborative facts of astronomy have given way one after another, since greater telescopic power has been applied to the nebula. Bode's law was attempted to be engrafted upon the theory, but even this has failed, for the planet Neptune has refused to obey the law, and consequently robbed the nebular hypothesis of any support, it might derive from this source.

THE NEW FORCE.

The eyes of the scientific world have been long fastened upon Fa

raday, as likely destined to arrive at generalizations in science, rivalling, in importance, the achievements of Newton. It is said, that Newton, when he saw, from his calculations, the grand mystery of the universe, the law of gravitation dawning upon him, was obliged, from his overpowering feelings, to surrender the completion of the task to another. It would appear, that another such crisis is at hand, and that Faraday is the favoured individual to unlock the higher mysteries of the universe, and enjoy the first burst of the hidden truth. It was Newton's mission to deal with cosmical arrangements-to unite the celestial bodies in the all-embracing law of gravity- it is Faraday's to deal with molecular arrangements. The one had to deal with worlds, the other with atoms, The latter, however, seems to be the higher, at least, the more comprehensive problem.

Newton did not look upon gravitation as an ultimate fact, which defied further analysis. So far from this, he suggested an explanation, showing that he did not regard it as setting a barrier to all further research into nature's mysteries. The recent advances of science have held out strong hopes, that the imponderable elements, light, heat, and electricity, might, along with gravitation, be resolved into some higher unity. There have been, accordingly, many "anticipationes naturæ." It was too tempting an opportunity for unlocking the universe, to wait the result of patient investigation. Faraday has carefully eschewed mere guessing, he has selected the laborious path of induction, and he has now been rewarded, by finding the clew to the deepest recesses of nature. Month after month he is astonishing the scientific world by a rapid succession of brilliant discoveries. He lately established a bond of union between light and magnetism, by showing that a magnet produces rotation in a beam of light. His next achievement was to show that all forms of matter were subject to magnetic action. By employing a powerful electro-magnet, he proved, that all bodies in nature are either attracted like iron, or repelled, the former being called magnetic bodies, the latter diamagnetics. The last, and, perhaps, the greatest achievement is, the discovery of a force altogether new. This force he calls mayne-crystalic-being detected in crystalline substances, by means of magnetism. It is a force residing in the crystalline structure. When the crystal is suspended between the poles of a magnet, the new force is manifested by its directive power, the magne-crystallic axis being constrained to place itself parallel to the magnetic axis. The magne-crystallic axis in bismuth is the line drawn through the crystal at right angles, to the most perfect of the four cleavage plains of the crystal. This statement would not of itself imply that there was any new force, as the directive power might arise from induced magnetism, as in the case of a suspended bar of iron. Faraday allows that part of the force may be ascribed to this source, and to this part he applies the name of magnetocrystallic. But by ingenious crucial experiments, he shows, that over and above this, there is another force which does not partake of the nature of attraction or repulsion. This new force belongs essentially to the crystal, and is to be referred to the molecular forces of matter. The magnetic action is not the cause, but merely the occasion of the

development of this directive power, which is quite distinct from polarity. It is to be hoped that this new force will be the means of lifting up the veil of mystery that hangs over molecular forces. No one can examine the clumsy and complicated molecular hypotheses resorted to, in order to explain phenomena, without feeling that the bewildering complication of atmospheres of force, is not the true system of nature, and that some master-mind is necessary to unravel the tangled skein, and exhibit nature in all her simplicity. Every integrant particle of matter requires to be surrounded with three atmospheres of force. There is first an atmosphere of repulsion; secondly, an atmosphere of attraction; and, thirdly, one of repulsion. Chemical affinity, and electric attraction and repulsion, also, require their own independent hypotheses. This is evidently not the system of nature, and the scientific world feel that matters are now ripe for a mind such as Newton's, to achieve a task even nobler than Newton's.

Researches in the forces of nature demand two elements in the exploring mind; viz: the qualitative and the quantitative. To the full solution of the problem which nature presents, it is necessary that a power be applied not only of discovering the nature of the forces, but of determining the mathematical relations which is law implies. In the problem of gravitation it was chiefly the quantitative element that was required, and Newton abundantly met the demand. Hitherto the investigation of molecular forces has required rather the qualitative element, and certainly the history of science cannot furnish a parallel to Faraday's powers in this respect. It has yet to be shown whether the higher problem now presented requires in one mind the combined elements of a Newton and a Faraday. The following are the words of Leverrier as to the prospect of future advances in astronomy furnished by the discovery of Neptune. "This success permits us to hope that after thirty or forty years of observation on the new planet, we may employ it in turn for the discovery of the one following in its order of distance from the sun. Thus at least we should unhappily soon fall among bodies invisible by reason of their immense distance, but whose orbits might yet be traced in a succession of ages with the greatest exactness by the theory of secular inequalities." On this Professor Nichol remarks in his own characteristic and happy style. "Am I indeed overcharging it in deeming that the attitude of the enquirer here approaches the sublime? Standing on the summit of a pinnacle to which the loftiest minds had heretofore looked with rather an aspiration than a hope, his first glance is even further onwards his thoughts stretch towards remoter attitudes still lying cloud-capped-but which may now be scaled, and the prospective beneath, spread before the triumphant eye of man." This instance of sublimity is however more than matched by Faraday, in the close of the Bakerian lecture, where he gives an exposition of the magne-crystallic force. We call it sublime not merely for the hope modestly expressed-for such a hope has long been entertained-but for the certainty of the ground on which he bases that hope. "A few years ago, (says he,) magnetism was to us an occult power, affecting only a few bodies-now it is found to influence all bodies, and to possess the most intimate relations with electri

city, heat, chemical action, light, crystallization, and through it with the forces concerned in cohesion, and we may in the present state of things feel urged to continue in our labours, encouraged by the hope of bringing it into a bond of union with gravity itself."

THE LEAGUE oF WITTEMBERG.

One of the most striking phenomena of the present day, as marking one of the great cycles in the progress of social and religious development, is the late conference held at Wittemberg. It consisted of the representatives of evangelical Protestantism summoned from all parts of Germany, from Schleswig to Bavaria, from the Pregel to the Rhine. The object of the conference was to unite the Christianity of Germany, against the flood of German infidelity which threatens to sweep away all traces of evangelical religion. Wittemberg seems to have been selected for its many heart-stirring associations. It was there that Luther first preached the gospel. It was there that the first revolt against authority was proclaimed, and it was there that the ashes of Luther as well as Melancthon were laid, after the glorious battle of the Reformation was over. To render the power of association still stronger, the meetings of the League were held, in the very church upon the walls of which, Luther dauntlessly affixed his ninety-five theses. The very pulpit was occupied from which the thunder of the reformer's eloquence often issued. What a strange history has been embraced between that memorable day when Luther walked with stern front through the crowd to post up his theses, and the day when these five hundred brethren met virtually to proclaim that religion was now in the crisis of a death struggle. The monster Luther had to struggle with, has now given way to a one far more formidable. There was a basis of faith on which Luther might found his great work, now any thing like religious faith has almost entirely become extinct, in the great mass of the people. Kunze, a pastor of Berlin, was constrained to make the melancholy admission " Ninety-nine hundredths of our people have either fallen away from us, or gone over openly to the enemy." The Popish Antichrist that bulked so largely in Luther's view sinks into insignificance before the new and more formidable Antichrist. This was strikingly shewn by the conference resolving even while standing over the graves of Luther and Melancthon, to embrace the Roman Catholic church, along with the various Protestant confessions in the projected league. If Luther could start from his grave, how would he stand aghast at the representatives of the Reformation entering into league with the man of sin? A large minority however strongly protested against this step, and the majority very wisely yielded. But what is the meaning of this phasis of religion in Germany which the Wittemberg League so strongly marks? To use the phraesology of St. Simon, is this an organic or critical phasis? Has the revolt against authority-the great cataclysm of the Reformation-still to shake the beliefs of men, before the church of God assume a settled and organic form? The needle of the church, long pointed to human authority, has

it still to oscillate to the opposite extreme of rationalism, before it shall, at last point steadily to the true loadstar of the Church, her divine Head. Whatever answer is to be given to these questions, we cannot but sympathize with Krummacher, one of the members of of the Conference, in his confident anticipation, that the Church of Germany is not dead, but sleepeth, and that at the bidding of her Divine Master. she will come forth, cast away her grave clothes, and walk in new life and beauty.

THE FIVE SCHEMES OF THE CHURCH:*

OR

"NO END TO THE DEMANDS FOR MONEY!"†

"FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE."-Matt. x. 8.

Twas evening, and the wintry wind its moanings, shrill and loud,
Mingled with all the sounds that rise from a vast city's crowd;
Bat there was many a home within that city, where the blast,
With its fierce howl, and chilling breath, swept all unheeded past.
And in one stately mansion there, with crimson curtains hung,
A blazing fire, o'er pictured walls, its fitful radiance flung;
And in a richly cushioned chair, beside that hearth reclined
One who 'mid all these comforts seemed to bear a troubled mind.
A wealthy son of commerce, he had with no sparing hand
That dwelling reared whose splendour vied with any in the land;
But though he gazed with pleasure round his richly furnished room,
Yet thoughts arose that shaded now his lofty brow with gloom.
And thus he muttered to himself, "There's now so many a call
For aid to schemes of charity, that none can give to all;
The Agent for these Missions came to-day demanding more,
Nay, coolly asking me for twice the sum Í
gave before.

They seem to think that money flows in one exhaustless stream
On me, and all appear to join in the same childish dream:
Here is the fourth demand I've had for charities alone
This year, when ev'ry other claim so heavy too has grown.

This house-its costly furnishings-the altered style that here
Must be maintained-my children too requiring year by year
Increasing outlay, 'tis indeed impossible that I

One shilling more, this year at least, can give in charity.
"But was I right, to do what must such vast expense entail"?
He glanced around his gay saloon, but all appeared to fail
In yielding pleasure to his eye, for restless thoughts were now
At work within, and deepening fast the shadows on his brow.
For in the book that Agent shewed, the name had caught his eye
Of one whose income small, and large increasing family,
Had often made him wonder how they all were clothed and fed,
And yet his name stood there for just the sum that he had paid.

* We have been led to admit this somewhat lengthy poem, written, we believe, by a young lady, more from the object it advocates, and from the wish of friends, than from our sense of its poetic merits.-ED.

Versified and altered from the "So many Calls," of Mrs. H. B. Stowe of New York.

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