Scientytc Reviews. 109 



keeping, and of increasing the propierty of each family. Such is 

 the aim of political economy, to which geography and statistics na- 

 turally attach themselves, as sources of knowledge and as collections 

 of facts, destined to serve as a basis to the calculations necessary 

 for practical results. 



An acquaintance with geographical and statistical facts, interests 

 almost all classes of society, and it is only by the extensive labour 

 of collecting them from the numerous works in which they lie scat- 

 tered, that we can succeed in assembling the materials of a good 

 and faithful description of the globe, or become acquainted with 

 the elements of the riches, and the power of nations, — a knowledge 

 indispensable in the commercial and political relations of people to 

 one another. 



. The author of the System of Geography before us, is certainly 

 one of the first critical geographers in this country. His judgment 

 and discrimination must be now familiar to our readers, and judg- 

 ment, with a proper scepticism and enthusiasm in the cause of a 

 noble and favourite science, are attributes that must ensure success 

 in any branch of inquiry. 



We have before us many geographical works of the highest im- 

 portance, but they are chiefly in foreign languages, and this is the 

 case with the best system of geography now extant, — that of Rich- 

 ter. It was praiseworthy, then, in a town which preceded Edin- 

 burgh in its literary career, to undertake a system of geography 

 which should emanate from a British press, which by its plan and in its 

 execution should be adapted for almost all classes of readers, and which 

 deserves the kindliest reception of every one ; for we have no hesita- 

 tion in saying, that if continued with the same skill and spirit, it 

 will be the best work on geography in the English language. 



The first part of this work contains mathematical and physical 

 geography, — the former of which is treated with much ability, 

 and from the conscientious manner in which the author has collated 

 the leading generalities of this most important branch of physical 

 science, we feel convinced that it has only been the plan upon 

 which the work has been conceived, that has prevented him from 

 exposing at proper length, and in a more comprehensive manner, 

 the details connected with inquiries of so much interest. 



With respect to physical geography, it is a science as yet in its 

 infancy, and it will probably be a long time before any person will 

 come forward and collect the scattered materials of which it as yet 

 consists. A good system of physical geography, JMalte Brun said, 

 can only be the work of ages and of nations ; for it is evident that 

 it is based upon the most multiplied observations, and demands an 

 intimate acquaintance with those materials that, in the form of 

 gases, fluids, or solids, enter into the composition of the globe, and 

 with the varied forms of animal or of vegetable life, that are scat- 

 tered on its surface, or buried in its mineral strata. 



In studying the classification of any of the kingdoms of nature, 

 we become zoologists, botanists, or mineralogists, or we may confine 



