112 REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



smooth extensive ice, leaving his ' yesterday's host of ridiculing friends to wonder 

 what in the world could have wrought this wonderful change, and rendered the 

 ci-devant Tortoise a very Hare on skates ! He who, but a few hours ago, could 

 scarce prevent his nose from freezing at a temperature of 32°., is now complain- 

 ing — with the thermometer at 14° in the shade — of the extreme sultriness of the 

 day, and after vainly seeking a refreshing zephyr in some sheltered nook, throws 

 himself down upon the first accommodation that meets his view. It is truly sur- 

 prising to witness the zeal which actuates individuals of all classes on the ice. 

 Men otherwise considered lazy in a physical point of view, will buckle on their 

 gkates and glide and twist and whirl away for hours together, with little appa- 

 rent fatigue. When we consider that such persons scarcely know what it is to 

 feel cold — that is, as long as the ice lasts — while others are shivering beside 

 warm fires, we think every healthy man ought to keep his skates in full employ- 

 ment while he has the opportunity. Regarding the matter of cold, a skating 

 friend of ours having occasion, once upon a time, when the thermometer stood 

 many degrees below the freezing point, to walk several miles, observed that he 

 would postpone his journey till the cool of the evening ! — We might extend our 

 skating reminiscences almost ad infinitum ; but, having already occupied more 

 space on the subject than we can well spare, must postpone any further ob- 

 servations we might be disposed to make upon the physical, moral, and intellec- 

 tual advantages of this recreation to a future opportunity. — Ed. 



REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



Considerations on Modern Theories of Geology; and their Consistency- or 

 Inconsistency with the Scriptures. By Thomas Gisborne, M.A., Prebendary of 

 Durham. London : T. Cadell, Strand ; W. Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh. 

 1837. 8vo. pp. 61. 



We have previously announced the publication of this pamphlet, but have 

 hitherto had no opportunity of reviewing it — a task we shall now briefly 

 discharge. 



There are three classes of belief as regards the science of Geology. Firstly, 

 those who abjure it in toto, as altogether subversive of the Scriptures ; secondly, 

 those who adopt the facts, but reject the theories of geologists ; and thirdly, those 

 who make every thing give way to their geological theories. To these we 

 may add the divines who would cause every geological theory to rest upon 

 scriptural authority, either with or without consulting geological facts. To this 

 latter class we may refer the author of the pamphlet before us, who wishes all 

 theories — if he feels such to be desirable at all — to hinge upon scriptural authority ; 



