Sei^ific Reviews. Ill 



This is the age of popular science : that is to say^ hundreds of 

 Byervile hands are now engaged plucking the laurels from the broTvs 

 of the most laborious philosophers and naturalists of the two last cen- 

 turies, to plant them in a soil where they must grow, for they are 

 watered by the tide of opinion. In many cases, however, the com- 

 pilation of popular works is at present in the best hands, and some 

 of them are well calculated to be adopted as elementary works, 

 or complete manuals of reference on the subjects, of which they 

 treat ; while others which, both from their price and language, 

 will be read before more valuable treatises, present the elements 

 of a revolution in scientific accuracy. Nevertheless, the whole bad 

 influence will not be felt in the present generation, more especially 

 in this country ; for, in the first place, we have too many men 

 really devoted to the interests of observation and experiment ; and 

 secondly, it never has been the characteristic of our countrymen 

 to be influenced for any length of time by what was really trifling : 

 we are political economists by nature, — a nation that has no rivals in 

 putting almost instantaneously to practical use the discoveries of 

 genius, and in the ready appreciation of the rich fruits of science. 

 The tide which flows with so much rapidity will meet with an op- 

 position in this national character that vnll make it return to its 

 own level. 



The descriptive portion of Mr. Bell's work commences, we think 

 judiciously, with Europe, the geographical account of which occu- 

 pies a portion of Part I. Part II. the whole of the second volume, 

 and nearly all that of the third. Malte-Brun and other geographers 

 have followed a difl^erent plan ; and the first mentioned author did 

 not live to terminate that part of his system of geography that would 

 have afforded the finest scope for his talents, and probably have 

 added new credit to his labours. 



In the present age, the importance of the three continents and 

 of Australasia is entirely contained in their relation to the civilized 

 states of Europe. And thus, beyond the contemplations of history 

 or the researches of science, the interest of independent nations 

 depends on their commercial advantages, while the remainder will 

 be found to be colonized by civilized people, and are to be studied in 

 the consideration of their political influence. It is not at present a 

 question whether this order of things will continue, or whether geo- 

 graphical inquiry will in future emanate from the populous republics 

 and empires of the western world, — it is suflicieut that it is at this 

 time concentrated in the civilization of Europe ; and if the enthu- 

 siasm for the science, the dissemination of facts, and the patronage 

 given to geography by the public, equalled the commercial enter- 

 prize, and the means which lie at their command, — no where would 

 geography make such a rapid progress as in Great Britain herself; 

 and we do sincerely hope, that our labours in collecting materials, 

 and in distributing information on these topics, will not be unat- 

 tended with beneficial results. 



We are sorry that our space will not allow us to enter into any 



