486 The Channel Tunnel. [OGtober, 
hideous or lovely, there represented as inhabiting the realms 
of space, are not spirits, but composed of matter so subli- 
mated as to escape the senses of man in his ordinary condi- 
tion. 
The authors give it as their opinion that the “‘ nebulous 
beginning and fiery termination of the present visible uni- 
verse are “‘ indicated in the Christian records.” The “ fiery 
termination” assigned to the world by the ordinary Christian 
eschatology does indeed present a certain superficial resem- 
blance to what science points out as the probable ulti- 
mate catastrophe. But we must remember that certain 
sects of ancient philosophers held in like manner that the 
earth would ultimately be destroyed by fire, and that these 
views had been promulgated before the date of the New 
Testament. As to the “nebulous origin” of the universe, 
we may ask how is it, if such be the teachings of the Scrip- 
tures, that both divines and philosophers of orthodox tenden- 
cies failed to perceive it, and denounced the hypothesis of 
Laplace as essentially atheistic? Thus Sir D. Brewster in 
his ‘‘ Plurality of Worlds” declares it ‘‘ equally at variance 
with reason and Scripture” (p. 171). 
We regret that we can continue no further our examina- 
tion of a work so important in its subje¢t—so thoughtful 
and so suggestive. ‘To deal fully and fairly with all the 
issues here opened up would require the study of years. 
Widely as we differ from the authors, we are bound to pro- 
nounce it a book which few men of cultivated minds can 
read without pleasure and profit. Its main conclusions we 
are, however, unable to accept. Its arguments, solid and 
satisfactory at first sight, fade away in our grasp like elfin 
gold, and leave us empty-handed and disappointed. 
V. THE CHANNEL TUNNEL. 
By F. C. Danvers, Assoc. Inst. C.E., &c. 
mountains and deep ravines that separate divers na- 
tions, and have been adopted by them as natural terri- 
torial boundaries, were developed, in some cases by gradual 
changes in the surface of the globe due to natural causes, 
whilst in others they are attributed, apparently with good 
reason, to violent convulsions of Nature, by the action of 
yr is generally accepted asa geological fact that the high 
