REVIEWS. 
409 
require from time to time constructive books, to balance all this Analysis ; 
tbe Deductive method must be set against the Inductive ; the careful collec- 
tion and proper collocation of miscellaneous and disjointed observations is at 
least as necessary as their independent substantiation ; the soldiers of the 
army that make war against nature must be marshalled into ranks and 
battalions : “ I? union fait la force” 
Hence we have the very necessary and logical conception of the new 
science, Physiography. Strictly speaking it is nowise new. It was fore- 
shadowed in the De JRerum Natura of Lucretius, and before that, by 
Aristotle and Plato ; satyrized in Tractatus de omni Scibili, and so on ; but 
very beautifully set before the mind in one word, Cosmos (koo-^os), by 
Humboldt. If Cosmos, signifying at once the Law of Order, and that con- 
crete demonstration of this law which we behold around us in the material, 
perhaps even in the ultra-material, world, could be naturalized to the 
English language, as it has been in the more plastic and flexible German, 
it would serve far better than the somewhat jaunty and affected term 
now suggested. Physiography clashes uncomfortably with its predecessor 
Physiognomy, and, to the writer at least, always suggests a suspicion of 
photographic portraiture and cartes de visite, which it does not claim or 
deserve. But whatever be the merits or demerits of the name, the general- 
ization is undoubtedly wanted, and will continue to be wanted from time to 
time as science progressively advances. Perhaps on the whole, Cosmo- 
graphy, now familiar to English ears, would be preferable. The essential 
idea involved is — an orderly review of the Systema Mundi, framed on the 
widest possible basis, and taking account of the latest researches in Heat, 
Light, and Molecular Mechanics. 
On this theme, Mr. Skertchly has constructed a very agreeable and 
well-digested book. He states in a short preface that it owes its origin to a 
lecture delivered to Science teachers at the Charterhouse College, and its 
present publication to the fact of “ the Department of Science and Art having 
recently become impressed with the inexpediency of teaching earth-lore as a 
chaotic assemblage of isolated facts.” 
After an introductory chapter, the writer considers in succession Matter 
and Motion, Light, the Sidereal and Solar systems, the Sun, the earth’s 
internal Heat and its effects as contrasted with what is derived from ex- 
ternal sources ; leading up to what he terms “ Earth sculpture.” This is 
followed by chapters on Climate, and on the origin of Life ; the work con- 
cluding with speculations upon the past and future of creation and on 
the finite nature of the solar system as indicated by the most recent views 
of the Nebular hypothesis. 
The language made use of is throughout of a clear, striking and some- 
what picturesque character ; the main argument being elucidated by short 
epitomes of its essential points. As instances of lucid exposition may be 
named the chapters on the Precession of the Equinoxes, and on the newly 
discovered Repulsion from Radiation as explaining the behaviour of cometary 
envelopes. The conclusion of the work deserves quotation : — 
11 All our knowledge tends to strengthen belief in the Nebular Hypothesis 
under some form or another. But it may be asked, if this be true of our 
system, are we to stop there P The stars are suns and move in systems. 
