CRITICAL NOTICES OP NEW PUBLICATIONS. 325 



two hemispheres upon each other at different seasons of the year ; 

 and, also, how those actions are further modified by some of the 

 more remarkable characters of the extensive divisions of the land, 

 and thus has presented a general view of the phenomena of the 

 year. "My object is not, however," Mr. Mudie observes, " to 

 teach scholastically, but to entice the reader to learn for himself, 

 practically, pleasantly, and profitably ; to stimulate the desire of 

 knowledge, and to simplify the means of acquiring it, as well for 

 the satisfaction and superiority which true knowledge gives us in 

 this world, as for the confirmation which it affords of the fulfilment 

 of our best hopes, when to us this world shall be no more." And 

 well has jMr Mudie performed his important object. May the re- 

 sults equal his expectations, and the light which he has shed on this 

 branch of science be extended throughout all nations, and never 

 again be dimmed by supineness and ignorance. 



These are the general heads merely, under which are ranged all 

 the minute particulars essential to the elucidation of each specific 

 subject. The history of the earth is a long and interesting one, but 

 as it is so intimately connected with the Air and the Sea, it will of 

 course be necessary to possess the three volumes as references to 

 each other. We here enumerate a few of the leading sciences, the 

 union of which constitutes the natural history of the earth : — geo- 

 graphy, natural and physical, zoology, botany, mineralogy, geology, 

 meteorology. It will thus be seen that the latter, for instance, 

 more particularly belongs to the volume on Air — but they are so 

 blended, that they should be considered one entire set, which it 

 would not be consistent to separate. Nor will any reader, scientific 

 or superficial, we predict, on perusing one volume, be willing to 

 confine himself to that volume. The general opinion will be, in 

 which ours agrees, that the entire work should have comprised at 

 least six volumes, instead of three, as the work of compression 

 would not then have been so close, and its intelligence would, con- 

 sequently, have been more diffused. We do not now make extracts 

 to shew the style and manner of the publication, because the length 

 of these remarks have so much pressed upon our room ; but in a fu- 

 ture number we may doubtless be tempted to prove from the con- 

 text, that our praise is not the dictation of partiality, but of literal 

 justice. The plates, in Baxter's oil-colour printing, are most exqui- 

 site specimens of a newly-discovered art, which cannot fail to be ge- 

 nerally admired. 



Thk Air. — In this volume, the author does not assume that he 

 has succeeded in bringing the subject of this most interesting fluid 

 in those broad and general features which shall render a reference 

 to other sources unnecessary ; but he has certainly made the road so 

 smooth and open, that a little diligence only is required to attain all 

 the knowledge essential to the clear understanding of the atmosphe- 

 ric fluid. We need not point out the difficulty against which the 

 unlearned have to contend in obtaining such a view of this subject 

 as shall enable them to see at once the nature of the different parts. 



