Literary Notices. 379 



fourth, and uphill side of the lake, where the sources of the river 

 have naturally to he looked for." 



The Classification of the Sciences ; to which are added 

 Eeasons foe Dissenting from the Philosophy of M. Comte. By 

 Heebeet Spencer, Author of " First Principles," " Social Statics," 

 etc. Williams and Norgate. 



We cannot divert from our ordinary subjects enough space to 

 do justice to Mr. Spencer's important essay, in which he points out 

 where his philosophy differs from that of Comte, to whom we think 

 he is scarcely just. M. Comte made a serious mistake in attempt- 

 ing to construct a system in which an intelligent First Cause had no 

 place ; and when he tried to imagine a kind of theology that would 

 supply the defect, he resorted to speculations of the most unsatis- 

 factory kind. We believe, however, that he has exercised a very 

 beneficial influence over modern thought through the truth and 



DO 



utility of many of his ideas. His classification of the sciences was 

 certainly imperfect ; but this was partly occasioned by the fact 

 that there are really no palpable lines of demarcation, one science 

 merging into another at several points. Mr. Spencer's labours 

 supply valuable material for hard, accurate thinking upon this 

 subject ; but we do not believe his classification will satisfy many 

 minds. We should, however, be unjust if we did not admit the 

 skill with which he has developed his ideas. 



The Principles of Agriculture. By William Bland, M.R.A.S., 

 Author of " Principles of Construction in Arches, Piers, Buttresses, 

 etc." Second Edition. {Longmans.') — Mr. Bland is well known in 

 Kent as an eminent authority upon agricultural questions, and he 

 lias also distinguished himself by displaying great mechanical inge- 

 nuity in various departments, boat-building among the rest. The 

 first edition of the present work has been long out of print, and the 

 new one, which is somewhat enlarged, and brought down to date, 

 gives the results of experience in a manner that cannot fail to be 

 useful to agriculturists. Mr. Bland's practical knowledge seems 

 to us in advance of his theoretical acquirements ; but the reader 

 who gains a large amount of information from his pages, will not be 

 disposed to cavil if, for example, he finds the word " fermentation" 

 used in a manner that is not very clear. It is important to notice 

 Mr. Bland's opinions on landlords and leases. He thinks " the 

 tenant should be allowed full scope to do what he pleases till within 

 the last three years of his lease," and that at the expiration of the 

 lease the landlord should make an allowance for all improvements. 



