I88 4 .J 
Analyses oj Books. fryg 
statement which the astronomy of the present day scarcely veri- 
hes : — “ Astronomically considered Alcyone in Pleiades forms 
tie centre ol the astral system, and is the pivot around which 
our solar system revolves.” This idea was suggested about 
- tort y years ago, but is now abandoned. 
The author, whilst visiting the Pyramid and examining the 
so-called “ Coffer,” detected, or had his attention directed to, 
maiks indicating that the stone had been cut by means of a 
circular saw, — a fadt which throws a startling light upon the 
state of the mechanical arts in ancient Egypt. 
It must be remembered that the author is far from accepting 
the theories of Prof. Piazzi Smyth. He agrees with the view of 
Mr. G. Massey that the so-called Hyksos, or shepherd-kings, 
were not foreign invaders, but native kings who upheld the 
ancient cults in opposition to the newer theology of succeeding 
Mr. Oxley calls our attention to the fadt that Egypt was a 
settled and civilised nation ages before Assyria, Media, Babylon, 
Greece, and Rome came into being as great powers, and yet she 
still lives, while all these have passed away for ever. Such per- 
sistence must have been profoundly affedted by its religious 
ins'cindts. In Egypt these instindts were manifested in what the 
author teims a system of ympcr-naturalism, intertwined not 
merely with their social and religious, but even with their civil 
and political life. A belief in the intervention of controlling 
powers, outside the realm of Nature (?), was to the Egyptians a 
reality. 
We here note that the author takes up a position somewhat 
strange in our days. He complains repeatedly of “ the mate- 
rialistic tendency which the teachings of modern savanis are 
undoubtedly developing.” 
He admits that since those ancient times to which he has been 
referring “ there has been a great advance in the adaptation of 
science and art to human requirements as far as mere earthly 
existence is concerned,” yet he adds that “ if this is at the 
expense of the spiritual perceptions and powers of humanity, 
it becomes a question whether it does not betoken a retro- 
gression. 
But we may here ask whether any agency or power can be 
rightly spoken of as outside the realm of Nature. We must 
also point out that the author, whilst referring to modern 
adaptations of Science, — many of which we should join him in 
pronouncing essentially evil, — says nothing concerning recent 
advances in Science itself. 
Another significant passage is the following : — “ Strange it is 
that the majority of our ‘ scientific ’ savants are so persistently 
opposed to what they choose to class as Super-naturalism, 
meaning thereby the adtion of any law or power that does not 
come within the scope of the laboratory, or instruments made 
