1849.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



21 



done, is shown by the process which lias been made in vital 

 statistics; but what is to he done, must be done inductively. 

 Takings the operation of moral laws as an example, it is quite as 

 competent to give the statistics of the evils which have followed 

 on their infraction, as it is to chronicle the result of physical 

 disease. We may sketch out general laws, but the men of the 

 liresent age require the evidence of facts. Here we may point 

 out that the movements or dynamics of phenomena or events of 

 what Whewell calls cntiistrophic laws, have never been carefully 

 considered. The doctrine of probabilities is an empiric mode 

 of escaping the investigation of facts, and the foundation of 

 a new science is to he laid by gatliering together, recording 

 and investigating, the phenomena known to us; the orbits and 

 and forms of the planets and comets, their revolutions ; the periods 

 of earthquakes, volcanoes, meteors, electric storms, hurricanes, 

 famines, plagues; the forms of crystallization; the aggregation of 

 atoms; the catastrophes effecting human, animal, and vegetable life. 

 Whatever has been done in this, has been by laying down so-called 

 regular circles, ellipses, and lines,and by taking means which are not 

 recognised in creation. iNIr. Fergusson has shown (p. 32, 33, 69), 

 that there must be a mudi higlier arithmetic and geometry than 

 that we now possess; and it is only by the belief that we cannot 

 attain them, that we debar ourselves from their acquisition. If 

 we examine the history of mathematics, we shall find its higher 

 branches have all been consequent on the advancement of the 

 sciences of observation. A discovery in astronomy, in optics, or in 

 electro-magnetism, drives the mathematician to more advanced 

 and a more elaborate system of explanation. Had Galileo and 

 Kepler never observed, the need of a system of fluxions or a 

 calculus could scarcely have been felt. Progress in the observa- 

 tions we have enumerated, may thus be the initiative to an advance 

 in mathematics and meclianics, beyond that which Newton made on 

 those who went before him. At present, facts are attempted to be 

 explained by science as it is, or rather, w as; not to induce the 

 science as Newton did, so as to lead the way to further facts. 

 So little, indeed, is the teacliing of Bacon remembered, or the 

 example of Newton understood, that the few attempts which have 

 been made to follow in his path (as by Mr. Herapath, for instance), 

 have been decried — not on their own merits, but as acts of heiesy 

 and treason against time-honoured doctrines. What has been 

 taught before may be true; but that is no reason for not learning 

 more. Mr. Fergusson says (p. 29) "In nothing is man's conceit 

 more painfully apparent than in his dread lest he should know too 

 much, and thus learn to despise the Deity; his fear, lest the very 

 limited space and time he can grasp should equal or surpass 

 infinity or eternity; or, that the small modicum of knowledge 

 wbicli, from his formation, he can ever hope to attain, should 

 exceed omniscience." 



In defining S(miatology, Mr. Fergusson considers the arrange- 

 ment of atoms, and states his belief that "all the observed phe- 

 nomena might be represented by some such hypothetical assump- 

 tion, as tliat all space is filled with definite atoms in a neutral 

 state, and, consequently, inappreciable by us, either directly or in- 

 directly; but that these, at the same time, may exist in two states, 

 wliich, for want of better terms, may be called negative and 

 positive states, or male and female (to borrow a somewhat distant 

 analogy). 7'hese may combine with one another — not like witli 

 like, but with their opposites, in certain definite proportions. 

 That these combined atoms or particles, again combined, accord- 

 to the same law, form chemical atoms; and these last combined 

 in certain proportions, which we know, form tlie sensible matter 

 of this globe." "I cannot help thinking," says tlie writer, "there 

 would be considerable advantage in representing our chemical 

 philosophy according to this simple theory; and I know it can 

 be done." So far as our investigations on the atomic proportions 

 have gone, we are inclined to the latter opinion. Tliis view of 

 antagonist principles or forces has been often put forward; it will 

 be found in the works of Mr. Rooke, of Akehead, and last, by Mr. 

 Hyde Clarke, in the Popular Atlas, already named, under the head 

 of Phenomena of the Universe, where it is extended by the as- 

 sertion tliat this antagonism is exerted in every phenomenon and 

 operation, preventing tlie repetition of the same movements or 

 forms. "The paths of tlie planets are in irregular-shaped ellipses, 

 because, according to physical laws, they cannot be circular, for in 

 nature a circle or a right line is not found, nor is the same shape 

 ever gone over again, w hich would be so if a perfect figure were 

 formed. In nature, tliere is always a contest between the opera- 

 tions of centricity and eccentricity." It is this assumption of an 

 individuality of creation in each object and operation of nature, 

 which is a prevailing doctrine throughout Mr. Fergusson's intro- 

 duction. 



Mr. Hay has, we consider, done a great deal of good by his 

 investigations on form; but we cannot by any means agree in his 

 theories or his results in the limitation of forms. Mr. Joplin has 

 done much more to our mind, by showing the infinite vai ietv of 

 curves which may be produced. Mr. Fergusson, in the definition 

 of geometry, gives, we think, reasons against Mr. Hay, which tlie 

 inspection of the great room of the Society of Arts w ill confirm. 

 "W^e are in thehabit of call ingsquaresand circles, cubes and spheres, 

 and such like simple figures, perfect forms, and fancying that they 

 are more beautiful or more perfect than more complex ones; and, in- 

 deed, they are so to us, as they are the only ones we can comprehend. 

 But the amorphous* mass of granite is quite as perfect in nature's 

 eyes, and as complete and certain in all its forms and relations, 

 as a lens of glass or billiard hall (assuming them to he what thev 

 pretend to be), and more so; but the latter are so simple in their 

 outline tliat we can reason upon them. The other defies our 

 powers; but were our analysis sufficiently perfect to enable us to 

 master its complexity, we should arrive at a very different con- 

 clusion." 



The Physical Sciences are included in Table 3 (p. 40 and 56) 

 which is only a sketch, and requires to be filled up and corrected. 

 Mr. Fergusson begins with the stars or Astronomy, and proceeds 

 to Etherology or the imponderables of the Uuivei-se (Light, Heat, 

 Electricity); Mineralogy, the substances of the globe (Air, Water, 

 Minerals); Botany, and Zoology; but though he afterwards es- 

 tablishes man as a separate class, Anthropology does not take its 

 proper place in his series. 



Each of these great classes, the writer treats under the relations 

 of space and time, as in class B. Thus, under space in Zoology, 

 are ranged Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiologj', Ontology, Zoography, 

 and Geogra]ihy; under time, Palfeozoology, and History. 



Chemistry becomes the doctrine of elements ; Anatomy shows 

 how these are put together; Physiology, how they work; Ontology 

 treats of the special law s of instinct or mind in animals; Zoograpliv 

 is the description of individuals; Geography, their relation to the 

 earth, — and we should suppose Mr. Fergusson means to the 

 uni\erse or Cosmograjihy. Palaeozoology treats of the changes 

 which took jilace in animals before the period of man, or man's ob- 

 servation; History, those wliich have taken place within his ob- 

 servation. t)n Mr. Fergusson's principles, the laws of design 

 relating to these classes of animals should be eliminated; but 

 unless they are included under Physiology (p. 52) or Geography, 

 we do not see that Mr. Fergusson has provided for them. 



The following is a development of ]Mr. Fergusson's system of 

 classification on his ow n jirinciples, but which he has left incom- 

 plete, it will be seen how many of these sciences are at present 

 uncultivated and undevelojied. 



Physical Sciences. (B) 



ASTRONOMY. 



Cliemistry 



Somatology 



Cosmorgics 



ETHEROLOGY. 



Cheniistry 



Etherology 



Etherorgics 



MINERALOGY. 



Chemisiry 

 Clirystallography (?) 

 Geoigics (?) 



Astrogra|ihy 

 Cosmography 

 Cosmogony 

 History 



BOTANY. 



Chemistry 



Anatomy 



Physiology 



Etherography 

 Cosmography 

 Geology (?) 

 History 



ZOOLOGY. 



Clu'riiistry 

 Anatomy 

 Physiology 

 Ontology 



Morphology 

 Cosmography 

 Geology 

 History 



ANTHROPOLOGY. 



Chemistry 



Anatomy 



Physiology 



Ontology 



Psychology 



Ethnography 



Cosmography 



Palaeoethnography 



History 



Pliytography Zoography 



Cosmography Cosmography 



Palseophy tography I'alaenzor graphy 



History History 



In reviewing tlie state of Astronomy, Mr. Fergusson points out 

 that it is at present most limited; and it maybe added, that on his 

 principles it is to be much extended. The assumption of spheroidal 

 forms and elliptical paths, acted upon by a simple and continuous 

 force, may be convenient in a rudimentary state of science, but he 

 requires the investigation, not of theoretical, but of exact forms 

 and orbits, and of the laws of design; under which the impress of 

 form and motion have been communicated. Hitherto, astronomy 

 has been within the range of Soniatological mathematics only; 

 and Mr. Fergusson claims it for universal mathematics, in whicli 

 the laws of mind shall he investigated as well as those of matter. 



* Mr. Fcrgusaun means amorphous ia the ordinary ienac attached to ** form.*' 



