318 

 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



Geology ; with Remarks on Bishop Sumner's Appendix to his work 

 entitled " Records of Creation." By the Rev. R. Fennell. 1836. 



By a certain party considerable exertions are strenuously making, 

 not merely to invalidate the theory, and neutralize the facts, ad- 

 duced by Dr. Buckland in favour of the pre-existence of the globe 

 prior to the period alluded to in the Mosaic cosmogony, notwith- 

 standing the intimation conveyed in the very words of the text in 

 Genesis, that the earth was at that very time a mass of matter 

 " without form and void ;" but actually to undermine the character 

 and detract from the merits of this respected and talented writer, 

 by representing him as little better than an infidel. It is not our 

 intention to enter into the wide field of argument connected with 

 this question, but simply to shew, by referring to a work of one of 

 his opponents, how far their reasonings may be depended upon by 

 any unprejudiced and impartial individual who is anxious to ascer- 

 tain on which side the truth really rests. That the reverend writer 

 may have as little to complain of as possible from our criticisms, 

 we shall, with but a trifling measure of note or comment, leave hira 

 to speak for himself in his own words. 



Of his capacity for undertaking the investigation as a philosopher 

 or a divine, the reader will form a tolerable opinion from the very 

 opening of his preface, in which he candidly says — " Of geology I 

 know but little : I once endeavoured to understand something of its 

 outlines ; but I soon found myself in a maze. It appeared to me 

 to be a science of opinions, and scarcely one of those opinions could 

 I find supported by two authorities !" A rather unfortunate con- 

 clusion this, when it is evident to ninety-nine out of every hundred 

 who ever lent their minds to the subject, that Geology is a science 

 in the investigation of which its upholders pique themselves on 

 Jacts, and not opinions. 



His powers for arguing the merits of the question may, in the 

 next place, be estimated by another reference to his own words, for, 

 with equal candour, he says, " When I argued I was laughed at." 

 We hope, after this honest confession, that when he appears be- 

 fore the public again, (as he assures us he shortly intends to do in 

 a poem, with copious notes, astronomical, geological, and religious), 

 he will, by a reconsideration of his objections, become a better rea- 

 soner, and more capable of occupying the post for which he claims 

 his fitness, in order to ft watch with jealous eye every approach 

 against the citadel of divine truth." In his present position he 

 takes part, and assumes an unfortunate identity with a bird which, 

 of all the fowls in the air, we are surprised at his choosing. " The 

 cackling of a goose," he observes, " once saved the capitol ; and if 



