158 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



world was not like Adam's, amid the rugged ruins of an ancient empire. * * 

 She had not seen Eden planted or peopled by the Creator for her ; but when 

 Eve opened her eyes to the light of day, it was among the bowers of Paradise. 

 * * * And while it was the first grand lesson of God to Adam that he 

 should rely on Himself directly and solely, to Eve he pointed out an earthly 

 head, under HimsehP, * * in whom she might repose her confidence, * * 

 and apply in her necessities ; at once her guardian, her teacher, her provider, 

 and her husband." 



As a discussive, although extremely speculative, book on a now popular 

 and interesting subject, "Pre- Adamite Man" is worthy of perusal, although 

 we do not apprehend it will make many converts to the novel doctrines it 

 inculcates. 



Archaia ; or Studies of the Cosmogom/ and Natural History of the Hebrew 

 Scriptures. By J. W. JDawson, L.L.D., E.G.S. 



Of all the books of geologico-theological aspects which have appeared this 

 season, or indeed for many seasons past, " Archaia," by Dr. Dawson, is the 

 best. In it he has given us the result of not only a series of exegetical studies 

 of the first chapter of Genesis, but also lucid observations on the numerous 

 incidental references to nature and creation in other parts of the bible ; the 

 entire work being a really useful digest of the cosmical doctrines of the Hebrew 

 scriptures. 



In the introductory remarks very beautiful allusion is made to that remark- 

 able serf -population that more than thirty centuries ago emancipated itself 

 from Egyptian bondage, and after years of wandering desert-bfe, settled itself 

 on the liills and in the valleys of Palestine, and whose migration is the most 

 remarkable in the annals of the world's history, not merely in its political, but 

 in its moral results. Those slaves thus liberated were no mean herd, but were 

 aspirated by a noble spirit and high hopes, and guided by a man of remarkable 

 perception and intellect, the great Hebrew law-giver, who has woven into his 

 grand historical and political composition a wonderful cosmogony, in which 

 tlie act of creation is simply but most grandly assigned to the One Deity — the 

 Creator and Preserver, and Lord of Hosts. It is this committal of itself to 

 certain cosmical doctrines and statements that has given rise to the colKsions 

 into which science and scripture have been brought. 



The difficulties and intricacies of the case have been boldly and firmly, at the 

 same time honestly and honourably, looked into by Dr. Dawson ; and although 

 we arc far from agreeing with him on all points, we advise the perusal of his 

 remarks by all mIio are really interested in the identification of the sublime 

 views of the biblical account of creation with the also sublime deductions of 

 science. 



That our readers may see the value of the work, we give them the sequence 

 of ihe t(^])ics discussed. Beginning with the objects, character, and authority 

 of <hc Hebrew cosmogony, we are passed on to the general views of nature 

 coulanuHl in the Holy Scriptures, then to those remarkable incidents — the 

 Ix^ghming, Uic desolate void, light, the days of creation, the atmosphere, the 

 dry laud, Ihe first vegetation, the heavenly luminaries, the lower and the higher 

 animals, man, and the resting of the Creator. Then follows a disquisition on 

 the uuiiy and antiquity of i\ian; and the work is terminated by a chapter of 

 coiuparisons and conclusions, boldly drawn and as boldly spoken in an honest 

 but fearless s])irit. 



Those eonelusions of Dr. Dawson are thus summed up : " In the natural as 

 well as in the moral world the only law of progress is the will and the power of 



