112 Scientific Reviews. 



analysis of Mr. Bell's geographical labours. We consider our duty 

 to have been accomplished in recommending the work ; but, as a 

 proof of their originality, we would request a perusal of any of the 

 chapters, for example, the account of Iceland, in the faithful de- 

 scription of which, excepting a few of the leading physical fea- 

 tures, as its spouting springs, mountains of snow, and volcanoes, 

 it would be almost impossible to recognize the former undefined 

 pictures given of a country, where literature dwelt amid bleak 

 rocks and a stunted vegetation — ^when she was degraded in the rest 

 of Europe, and had been forced to abandon the forum and acade- 

 mic groves of a much fairer sky. 



The next volume will embrace countries whose geographical or 

 statistical details it will not be so imposible for us to enter upon ; 

 and we shall therefore make a point of noticing the progress of this 

 system, and pointing out the critical opinions of a man who has 

 made geography a constant, an arduous, and a successful study. 



Review of the Recent Discussion, before the Academy of Sciences 

 in Paris, on the " Unity of Organization." — Part II. M. Geof- 

 FKOY St. Hilaiee's Answer to Baron Cuvier. 



M. CuviER, having analytically considered the theory of M. St. 

 Hilaire, as detailed in our last Number, required a rigorous deter- 

 mination of the language employed by M. GeofFroy, pleading that 

 if, by " unity of composition," identity in its strict sense be meant, 

 the statement is opposed by the evidence of our senses ; whilst if 

 it convey an idea of resemblance, analogy alone, it is true to a cer- 

 tain extent, but as old in principle as zoology itself. 



At the next sitting of the Academy, M. Geotfroy was prepared 

 with an explanation and advocation of his views, in answer to M. 

 Cuvier's interrogatory strictures. The author of the " theory of 

 analogies" has never made any distinction between the two ideas, 

 " unity of composition" and " unity of plan," and did not employ 

 the terms in their rigorous acceptation. Conducted by observation 

 alone to the conclusion that animals are formed upon the same sys- 

 tem of composition, he has called the principle which expresses 

 this idea, the principle of U7iity of organic composition. " Doubt- 

 less," observed M. GeofFroy, " to be perfectly exact, it would have 

 been better to name it a principle of ' unity of system in the com- 

 position and arrangement of organic parts.' But I wanted a name, 

 and I could only obtain one by the contraction of this phrase, in 

 the same manner as we employ ' criminal tribunal,' instead of a 

 ' tribunal established for the trial of criminal causes.' " Much 

 might be said in favour of the expression " unity of organic com- 

 position," even to justify the unity, more particularly attacked. 

 Did not Leibnitz use this term in the same sense when he defined 

 the universe " unity in variety ?" but, continued the Academician, 

 let us leave the words and occupy ourselves with things. 



