386 GEOLOGT AND MINERALOGY. 



pect iu which we at any moment regard an act of consciousness, but 

 the consciousness of the moment ? Logicians may distinguish these 

 things, if they please, but there is no real distinction between them. 

 If so, it follows that two aspects, in reality diverse, in which the 

 consciousness of a particular moment may be viewed, is an absurdity. 

 For, let A be one of these aspects, and B another ; C being the in- 

 divisiblecousciousness of the instant. Then A is identical with C ; 

 and B is identical with C ; so that A and B must be identical with 

 one another. In an act of sensitive perception, the consciousness 

 realized (in whatever aspect, logically speaking, you may choose to 

 view it) is in reality a relation between the Ego and the Non-ego : it 

 is the Ego existing in relation to the Non-ego ; and as doubt regard- 

 ing the existence either of the Ego or of the Non-ego, in a case 

 where a relation is established betwixt the Ego and the Non-ego, is 

 self-contradictory, it follows that consciousness, not only when con- 

 sidered as a phenomenon (whatever that may signify), but also when 

 regarded as testifying to the existence of Self and Not-self in their 

 mutual relation, is " above all scepticism." 



G. P. Y. 



SCIENTIFIC AND LITEEAEY NOTES. 



GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY 



rAL-EOXTOI.OGY OF NEW YORK. 



It is universally allowed, that the great work on Ihe Palaeontology of the State 

 of New York, by Professor James Hall of Albany, stands pre-eminent amongst 

 the publications of recognised value emanating from American science. The high 

 character, so fully established by the volumes already published, is not without dan- 

 ger, however, of being greatly deteriorated, as regards the completion of the 

 work. It may not be generally known, that the original plan of the publication 

 comprised the issue of five quarto volumes; each to contain about one hundred 

 plates of figures, with appropriate letter-press descriptions. Two of these volumes 

 have already appeared , and a third will be issued earlv in 1857. Professor Hall 

 has also undertaken, by an agreement entered into between himself on the one 

 part, and the Hon. E. Leavensworth, Secretary of State, and T. Romeyn Beck, 

 Secretary of the Board of Regents, on the other — to devote his entire attention 

 during nine months of each year to the completion of volumes 4 and 5 ; and to 

 have these ready for press within two periods, each of four years^ from the com- 

 pletion of volume 3. So far as we understand the question, an exception seems 



