REVIEWS. 
481 
1,500 stars, and four others which are respectively devoted to the names of 
the stars, the mode of determining the precessional motions of the stars, the 
construction of maps on the conical projection, the mode of determining the 
position of the ecliptic, and the position of the constellations at successive 
hours all the year round. 
RAIN AND RIVERS .* 
C OLONEL GREENWOOD gives us a new edition of his work on denu- 
dation. The author is a desperate iconoclast, and the unhappy victim 
of his violence is poor Sir Charles Lyell. With some sense and a deal of 
nonsense, occasional clear reasoning, and frequent blunders of logic, with 
much expression of narrow-minded prejudice, and a great deal of objection- 
able personality, Colonel Greenwood’s book has some merit, but can hardly 
be looked upon as a philosophical exposition of one of the most important 
doctrines of geology. The Colonel is a fierce antagonist, who has a far 
greater aptitude for ridicule than for argument, and whose onslaught on the 
most eminent of living geologists is in as bad taste as it is devoid of founda- 
tion in fact. We cannot here analyse the author’s opinions, nor indeed, if 
we had space, should we have the inclination to dissect them thoroughly, 
since they are not laid down with that calmness and impartiality which 
command the respect of the critic. We may mention, however, that he is a 
warm advocate of atmospheric denudation as the agent in the production of 
river valleys. In this we think he has a good deal of geological evidence to 
support him. For though there can be little doubt that other agencies 
besides atmospheric erosion operate in producing river valleys, still it seems 
to us that it is a very constant and important means. However, the whole 
hypothesis is still sub judice, and we therefore think Colonel Greenwood’s 
assertions are, to say the least, premature. Of the author’s other views we 
can only say that he believes that there were no successive developments or 
creations of animals. “ All were formed together ; there is no truth in the 
arguments of geologists as regards Eozoon Canadense, and other early 
fossils. Man lived during the Silurian period. The whole affair is the 
result of the most childish confusion between space and time, between place 
and period.” Colonel Greenwood mistakes coarse jocularity for humour, and 
thinks that in order to put his opinions before the public, he must “ go in ” 
for geology made funny, and for clumsily-constructed sentences, which even 
Artemus Ward would not have called “ goaks.” 
* “ Rain and Rivers ; or, Hutton and Playfair against Lyell and all 
Comers.” By Colonel George Greenwood. Second Edition. London : 
Longmans. 1866. 
