404 Notices of Scientijk Works. [July 



hydrogen, and oxygen, wliich we find so abundantly in the three 

 ancient elements, Air, Earth, and AA^ater, compelled into the mus- 

 cular matter of an animal or the Hgneous structure of a plant ? 

 May we draw from our modern science the conclusion that the 

 fourth ancient element Fire — we mean thereby the empyreal forces 

 which are gathered into the sunbeam — is the creative agency. 

 *' Where there is Light," said Lavoisier, " there we have organization 

 and Life ; where Light cannot penetrate, there death for ever holds 

 his silent court." 



The elementary constitution of matter, and the relations, so far 

 as they are known, between Force and matter, are first considered 

 by Mrs. Somerville. Then she examines all that has been done by 

 spectrum analysis, as we beheve, desiring to shadow out the influence 

 of the radiant powers in determining organized forms. Our authoress 

 then j)lunges (we can find no other word so truly expressive of the 

 fact) into the microscopic structure of the vegetable world and of 

 animal organisms. Here is the great defect of this work. There 

 is no real connection between molecular science and microscopic 

 investigation. The first examines with all the subtlety possible, by 

 the aid of experimental induction, the phenomena dependent upon 

 atmospheres of force enveloping the ultimate atoms of matter ; the 

 second observes the vast variety and the infinite beauty observ^able 

 in the microscopic forms of life. But, although the microscope may 

 teach the observer that a particular organic mass is but a wonder- 

 fully constituted aggregation of cells, that instrument can never 

 advance liim to a knowledge of the mechanical operation of the 

 osmose forces by which the functions of hfe are carried on, nor to 

 any appreciation of the value of the solar energies in j^roducing an 

 equivalent of organized form. It was a mistake, in the jjresent state 

 of science, to connect the two. Whatever may have been the first 

 idea of the authoress, she must feel that the molecules have given 

 her one set of links, and that the microscope has developed another. 

 They may appear to have relations to each other ; but a great 

 many links are wanting, and we have two ends of a broken chain. 



These volumes exliibit a remarkable amount of industry in the 

 collection of facts. They show an equally remarkable clejirness in 

 the appreciation of the value of those facts, and they prove that the 

 weight of years has fallen lightly upon the head of the lady who 

 so long ago translated the Astronomy of Laplace, and examined so 

 satisfactorily ' The Connection of the Physical Sciences.' 



We were not honest if we allowed ourselves to be betrayed by 

 our admiration for this lady into a false praise of her labours. 

 These volumes are fragmentary : they are made up of the facts, 

 and the fancies, of experimental and speculative philosophers. 

 Neither the molecular science nor the microscopic observations of 

 these volumes must bo taken as rehable guides to the truth. They 



