98 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



is past success without its incentives ; it affords the best basis whereon 

 to rest our hopes of larger and more abundant results. A Christian, 

 and, consequently, a truly benevolent philosophy, carefully contem- 

 plates all great and fresh exhibitions of mental power, and moulds 

 them with gentle and plastic adaptation to produce the greatest pub- 

 lic good. Aided by such a philosophy, we shall not rudely and in- 

 sultingly attempt to sully and destroy existing establishments, but ra- 

 ther look for their improvement to the sure, though scarcely percep- 

 tible, corrections of time." 



Dr. Jones's pages overflow with excellent and instructive precepts, 

 expressed with pecuhar and attractive fluency. The following extract 

 compels us to view his objects with respect, and his endeavours with 

 admiration. " Ignorance has had its day," he observes, " and it has 

 failed : the alternative problem is now in progress of solution. The 

 experiment is on its trial, how far literary and scientific knowledge 

 will avail in raising the character of a people, and influencing the des- 

 tinies of a great kingdom. Say what we will, and do what we please, 

 the impetus cannot be stopped or impeded. We can no more arrest 

 its march by our narrow fears and impotent cavils, that we can roll 

 back the flowing tide of the sea with the palms of our hands. If this 

 be so, what should be our aim ? Why, never to decry or oppose the 

 pursuit of human knowledge when this is not made an antagonist 

 principle to our faith as Christians, to our duties as subjects and citi- 

 zens. On the contrary, let us resolve to difl"use the blessings of use- 

 ful knowledge and to advocate its cause, not timidly or partially, but 

 strenuously, unsparingly, and conjointly. Faith and knowledge must 

 not be considered rivals, under whose banners enemies are to be en- 

 listed ; as representing an antipathy between the two revelations of 

 God, the written revelation of his holy word, and the unwritten page 

 of Nature — between the precepts of the Bible, and the great truths 

 which the science of social economy is hourly eliciting. The gospel 

 of salvation and human knowledge must be joint, as they are con- 

 fessedly gigantic, levers in the moral and mental amelioration of 

 mankind. Let us, then, give the Bible with our right hand, and the 

 volume of man's wisdom with our left. Let us persevere with the 

 liberal views and cordial tempers which have hitherto guided our 

 councils and rewarded our zeal , and yet fuller as well as riper harvests 

 will follow. And, above all, let us be determined, in spite of every 

 difficulty and trial, to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of 

 peace" 



As a " rural philosopher," Dr. Jones admits that a magazine, cle- 

 verly conducted, cheap in price, and mainly confined to reports of the 

 formation and transactions of provincial societies, could not fail of 

 being widely and influentially useful. We entertain the same opinion 

 to its fullest extent, and we shall continue to hold, as we have always 

 done, the pages of The Analyst open for the reception and recom- 

 mendation of reports from such institutions, when guided by the prin- 

 ciples which have obtained the Vicar of Bedfont's most eloquent and 



