268 QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



tour, I became convinced that we must turn to the new world, if we 

 wish to see in perfection the oldest monuments of the earth's history, 

 so far at least as relates to its earliest inhabitants. Certainly in no 

 other country are these ancient strata developed on a grander scale, 

 or more plentifully charged with fossils ; and, as they are nearly 

 horizontal, the order of their relative position is always clear and 

 unequivocal." Again (p. 17), " They who are accustomed to con- 

 nect the romance of their travels in Europe or Asia, with historical 

 recollections and the monuments of former glory, with the study of 

 master pieces in the fine arts, or with grand and magnificent scenery, 

 will hardly believe the romantic sensations which may be inspired 

 by the aspect of this region, where few points of picturesque beauty - 

 meet the eye, and where the aboriginal forest has lost its charm of' 

 savage wildness by the intrusion of railways and canals. The fo- 

 reign naturalist indeed sees novelty in every plant, bird and insect ; 

 and the remarkable resemblances of the rocks, at so great a distance 

 from home, are to him a source of wonder and instruction. But 

 there are other objects of intense interest, to enliven or excite ihei 

 imagination of every traveller. Here, instead of dwelling on thei 

 past, and on the signs of pomp and grandeur which have vanished,! 

 the mind is filled with images of coming power and splendour. The 

 vast stride of one generation in a brief moment of time, naturally 

 disposes us to magnify and exaggerate the rapid rate of future im- 

 provement. The contemplation of so much prosperity, such entire 

 absence of want and poverty, so many school-houses and churches 

 rismg everywhere in the woods, and such a desire fo? education, 

 with a consciousness that a great continent lies beyond, which haa s 

 still to be appropriated, fills the traveller with cheering thoughts and 

 sanguine hopes." 



Something of the spirit of Mr. Lyell's volumes may be gathered 

 from these extracts. We can spare room to copy but few of the 

 beautiful paragraphs with which they are every where interlarded 

 some on subjects of a purely scientific character, some on the pass 

 ing events of the day, and many upon the institutions of our country 

 We cannot, however, refuse ourselves the pleasure of one more ex- 

 tract, which exhibits a candor and frankness on his part, such ai 

 stands in bold contrast with the character of other English anc|poo\ 

 foreign travellers who have published journals of their tours througl 

 the United States. " Travellers must make up their minds in this at uill 



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