IGl 



peculiar to certain formations. Take the inhabitants of the general 

 field of new red, including the subsequent series, we shall find 

 them distinguished by an ordinarj' evenness and placiditj^ of tem- 

 perament, 3'et easily roused — strange, yet obvious ; similar development 

 of physical structure and carriage, and a wide code of sociality, govern 

 their intercourse ; they are, in fact, true cosmopolites. Their literature, 

 more especially their" poetry, bears within itself evident marks of this 

 singular distinction — soft and mellifluous in its metre ; its picturesque 

 colouring mellow-tinted ; the murmuring stream, the rose and the violet 

 interwoven in its poetical garlands ; all are strildng e^ idences how much 

 the physical features of the surrounding medium give tone to our 

 mental productions. In religion there is an equally strong line of 

 demai'cation. To be concise on tliis point, I would say there is in one a 

 peculiar stratum of materialism, in the other (the older,) an elaboration 

 of spiritualism. Eeverse the picture, and take the inhabitants of the 

 older formations, and you there find a striking difference. In physical 

 sti-ucture a bolder sharper outline, lofty bearing, something akin to the 

 stern features of nature developed around them. In habits retired, 

 silent, often approaching to churlishness ; slow to passionate outburst, 

 but when moved, like their mountain torrents, headlong and irresistible. 

 Their poetry partakes of the cliaracter of their scenery ; its imagery 

 spiritual : whilst their religion is more than tinctured with that euthusi- 

 astical visionary typificatiou, closely verging on what you may imagine 

 pervaded the early world, when angels walked the earth and held 

 converse with men. 



