LECT. VI. which this excellent man has allowed himself, I am sure unconsciously, to be drawn, we scarcely hope that, in his very advanced age, he will be brought to discover: but it has subjected him to the cutting suggestion of a clergyman of his own communion, who concludes a page of criticism upon the Prebendary's pamphlet, with the words, "This is surely not an age, in which dignitaries of the Church should be found arraying themselves in hostility to science."* Cockburn. Yet another dignitary has not withheld himself from the peril of joining this array. The last year, the Dean of York published "A Letter to Professor Buckland;" in which, by the expenditure of a very few pages of loose paragraphs, he actually represents himself as having overthrown some of the principal doctrines which the most cautious geologists regard as indubitably established; and then he brings forward a theory of his own, of which I will only say that it manifests a degree of ignorance next to incredible upon the phenomena under his consideration, the very nature and most obvious facts of stratification: and, to crown all, the Dean of York does not observe even common courtesy towards Dr. Buckland. Probably that eminent man may think this attack beneath his notice; and, scientifically considered, it is so. But, as not only the Dean's pamphlet, but the productions of * Powell's Connexion; p. 281. Prebendary Gisborne, Mr. Mellor Brown, and LECT. VI. some other writers, are directed against Dr. Buckland by name; and as multitudes read those pamphlets who are totally unqualified to detect their errors and escape the impression of their vehemence; it is greatly to be wished that he would confer upon the public a service so valuable as would be a calm exposure and refutation of the whole genus. PART III. A GENTLEMAN who has illustrated the history Turner. of our country in a manner which proves diligent research, fidelity to moral principles, and a pleasing talent for narration, Mr. Sharon Turner, has also written a work for the use of young persons, and containing stores of valuable matter, "The Sacred History of the World." This work, in a manner well adapted to inform and religiously to benefit the readers, introduces many facts of Natural History and principles of Natural Philosophy: yet one may wish that he had accumulated his materials with more discrimination. He has also taken notice of geological subjects, in several of the Letters of which the work consists. He has consulted many books and philosophical journals; and has brought together, in LECT. VI. rapid, but not always correct, sketches, a numerous body of interesting facts. In many of his details and descriptions, I humbly think that his work is mistaken and defective; the apparent result of having been compiled too hastily, by multifarious reading, without personal observation and practical knowledge. This is particularly the case in his opinions upon stratification; and in his account of vegetable and animal remains. He supposes all the stratified formations, from the lowest up to the highest secondary, to have been produced in the 1656 years from the creation of man to the deluge; and the tertiary, to have been the effects of the deluge itself:" notions which, one might well think, would be impossible to be received by any person who had examined with his eyes any large extent of stratified masses, and observed the vast thickness of many, and the regularity and order which belong both to the earthy deposits and to the organic remains imbedded in them. But, with all the deficiencies and errors which appear in this part of the work, Mr. Turner has sufficiently conceded the position, that, in any fair interpretation of the commencing portion of Genesis, "the Sacred Historian gives the largest latitude for the investigations and deductions of geological science." "What interval occurred between the first creation of the material substance of our globe, and the mandate for light to descend upon it, whether months, years, or ages, Geology LECT. VI. is not in the slightest degree noticed. Sacred History of the World; vol. I. pp. 491, 490. Biblicus LECT. VI. A book has been lately published by some one who honours himself with the appellation of "Biblicus Delvinus;" entitled, "Facts, Suggestions, and Brief Inductions in Geology." The apparent rapidity of composition, the unscrupulous facility of assertion, and the tone of selfcomplacency, which distinguish the book, would appear ludicrous; were it not that our minds are wounded and mortified by the reflection, that errors so egregious and reasonings so inconsequent as are found here, united with professions of pious reverence for the Bible, are not unlikely to work great mischief. That mischief may be immediate, by misleading the honest but uninformed; and remote, by producing a revulsion, to the injury of faith in the Scriptures, when those persons may come hereafter to be better informed. Indeed, I may express the belief that this is a common character of certain books and papers, which seem to be mutual copyists, in the qualities of blind and obstinate blundering, and vehement censuring of others who take some pains to understand before they write and publish; while these easy writers allow themselves no narrow indulgence in the formation of purely ideal and often very ignorant theories, by which they fancy that they can account for every thing.* There have been in the Christian Observer for 1832, 1834, 1839, and at other times, many valuable remarks of the Editor and communications from his correspondents, upon the studies of Geology. Many of those papers might be particularized as preeminently valu |