Reviews and Notices of Books, 213 



" It maybe thought that, while professing to keep to the old and safe 

 method of reasoning on known causes and ascertained effects, we de- 

 viate from this principle in regard to the origin of life, and introduce an 

 unknown cause for phenomena not understood, by calling to our aid an 

 act of ' creation.' Be it so, let the word stand for a confession of our 

 ignorance of the way in which the governing mind has in this case 

 acted upon matter ; we are equally ignorant in every other instance 

 which brings us face to face with the idea of forces not manifested in 

 acts. We see the stream of life flowing onward in a determined course, 

 in harmony with the recognized forces of nature, and yielding a great 

 amount of enjoyment, and a wonderful diversity of beautiful and instruc- 

 tive phenomena, in which Mind speaks to mind. Life through many 

 long periods has been manifested in a countless host of varying struc- 

 tures, all circumscribed by one general plan, each appointed to a definite 

 place, and limited to an appointed duration. On the whole the earth 

 has been thus more and more covered by the associated life of plants 

 and animals, filling all habitable space with beings capable of enjoying 

 their own existence or ministering to the enjoyment of others ; till 

 finally after long preparation, a being was created capable of the won- 

 derful power of measuring and weighing all the world of matter and 

 space which surrounds him, of treasuring up the past history of all the 

 forms of life, and of considering his own relation to the whole. When 

 he surveys this vast and co-ordinated system, and inquires into its 

 history and origin, can he be at a loss to decide whether it be a work 

 of Divine thought and wisdom, or the fortunate offspring of a few atoms 

 of matter, warmed by the anima mundi, a spark of electricity, or an 

 accidental ray of sunshine." 



An Introduction to the study of Gothic Architecture. By John 

 Henry Parker, F.S.A., &c. 2nd edition revised and er- 

 larged. Oxford and London : J. H. & J. Parker. Mon- 

 treal : B. Dawson & Son. 



The new edition of this excellent manual has been carefully 

 revised by the author, with considerable additions. The book is 

 one of farts and not of fancies and theories. It states only what 

 is well known, and has been established by painstaking research. 

 It was originally written as part of a series of Elementary Lec- 

 tures delivered to the junior members of the Oxford Architectural 

 Society. The illustrations which it contains are remarkably good, 

 and may be understood by any one. In this country where ar- 

 chitecture is just beginning to attract attention, this book will 

 prove useful to amateurs in the way of forming their tastes, and 

 directing them in matters of beauty and utility. It may be 

 questioned whether the Gothic or any of its accepted forms is just 



