: 
q 
45 
of the poem is occupied with the death of the narrator (who 
is termed the ‘‘seer”) and with his descent into Hades. The 
second describes his new abode ‘“‘The Paradise of the blessed 
dead,” with which is contrasted the prison of the lost in 
the third book. The next five books are a retrospect, being 
a history of the past from the earliest ages, related to the seer 
by his guardian angel. These deal with the creation of 
‘‘Angels and Men,” their fall, the empire of darkness, the 
redemption, and the history of the Church militant. The 
ninth book under the title of the ‘‘ Bridal of the Lamb,” sets forth 
the completion of the Christian Church in its union with Christ. 
Then come descriptions of the Millennial Sabbath and the Last 
Judgment; the twelfth and last book being devoted to an account 
of the ‘‘ Many Mansions”’ prepared for the blessed, and of the 
final conquest at the end. Thus the poem traces the course of 
time from the very commencement to the point where it merges 
in eternity. Mr. Finn gave a number of extracts illustrating the 
various powers of the poet and the story he tells, and after 
bringing the outline of the poem before his audience, he passed 
various criticisms upon it. He pointed out that the rhythm was 
not always perfect—that awkward elisions are of frequent 
occurrence—that there is occasionally a tendency towards pathos, 
and in spite of occasional roughness, the style has a music of its 
own. The language is often particularly happy, as for instance 
when to the description of an angel is added, ‘‘ The very sight 
was melody,” or where it is said of Judas Iscariot— 
The light 
Was torment, and alone he staggered forth, 
Into the darkness on his dark intent. 
Altogether, a work exhibiting so much learning, such large and 
original thought, such freshness and felicity of metaphor, such 
metaphysical subtlety, and above all. so great a power of 
idealisation is well worthy of attention, and may not improbably 
secure a high place in the literature of the nineteenth century, 
and at the least vindicate its claim to be considered a ‘‘ modern 
epic.” 
EVOLUTION. 
By HENRY NUTTER, March 25th, 1884. 
The lecturer traced the development of this planet from a 
gaseous condition to a state of liquid. He explained the Nebular 
Theory; the changes which were brought about by radiation, 
condensation, gravitation, and molecular attraction; the lumin- 
osity of the earth, and the cooling down of its surface; the long 
