CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 333 



Natural History Societies, we would have cheerfully so recommend- 

 ed it. We have pointed out its defects unreservedly, because it is 

 absolutely necessary that the votaries of Natural History in the pre- 

 sent day should fully understand that their observations, to be duly 

 appreciated, must keep pace with the progress of modern science, 

 and that nothing inadequate or imperfect can be now regarded, 

 however praiseworthy the author's intentions. 



Sacred Philo&ophy of the Seasons ; illustrating the Perfections of 

 God in the Phenomena of the Year. By the Rev. Henry Dun- 

 can, D.D. Vol. HI. Summer. Edinburgh : W. Oliphant and 

 Son. London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co. 1837. 



In our last number we were compelled to content ourselves with 

 a brief notice of the second volume of Dr. Duncan*s excellent work. 

 We now propose in some way to atone to the philosophic author by 

 a more detailed review of his treatise on Summer. We observe 

 throughout the varied subjects that have fallen under the scope of 

 his undertaking, the same comprehensive and devout spirit which 

 we had occasion to commend in our former critique. 



The first chapter very naturally consists of a general account of 

 the summer season, which is represented as the perfection of the 

 year. The increased heat of the season, and the internal heat of the 

 earth are next treated of. From the latter chapter we extract as 

 follows : — 



" The fact, then, seems to be established, that there is a vast region of ex- 

 cessive heat in the centre of the earth ; and that the crust of the globe is 

 rent internally into very extensive fissures, along which that formidable 

 agent approaches nearer the surface, and through which it finds occasional or 

 permanent vents. This being proved, seems to open to us, not only one of 

 the natural causes of the previous revolutions on the surface of our planet, 

 but a source of future disruption and ruin. The ' more sure word of pro- 

 phecy' informs us, that the time will come when the elements shall be dis- 

 solved with fervent heat, and the earth and all that is therein shall be burn- 

 ed up : and it is satisfactory to observe that geological indications render this 

 catastrophe, not only possible, but probable. Let it only be conceived that 

 the safety-valve, by which the superabundant heat generated internally is 

 at present thrown off, were, by some convulsion, to be stopped up, or that 

 some other deranging cause were to occur, which should destroy t he equili- 

 brium at present subsisting between the great central fire and' the shell in 

 which it is inclosed, and an explosion would take place like the bursting of a 

 bomb ; or, at all events, a force would be exerted which might altogether de- 

 range the present system of things, and set the world in a blaze. The pow- 

 ers which sustain the great planetary system are equally balanced, and, not- 

 withstanding the existence of a resisting medium, may, as to all practical re- 

 sults, be considered stable; but it is not so with the materials of our own 

 globe. These have already undergone numerous disruptions ; and there 

 is one other catastrophe still in reserve for them. We see the elements of 

 that catastrophe in existing phenomena, and when we look to the announce- 

 ments of Scripture, the event, which might almost be anticipated, is authori- 

 tatively foretold."_p. 22. 



Increased light and electricity are then discussed. The latter is, 



