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REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
investigation. These, again, have given way to other men of science, who study 
the undoubted works of God without traditionary assistance. They, too, have 
occasionally attempted so to twist the scriptural records as to suit their own 
scientific views. The attempt has proved a gross failure; but even supposing a 
more specious case to have been made out, we cannot but arrive at the following- 
conclusions respecting the Bible so far as science is concerned :—That without 
science, the Bible is valueless, because its truth must be tested by natural- 
theological testimony; and that when we have the aid of science, the Bible is 
superfluous—superfluous if true, because incomplete, and unimprovable; and 
absolutely pernicious if not true. We are glad to find that a nearly similar view 
has been taken by the Rev. Professor Powell, of Oxford. Out of the question 
of Scripture and Geology Dr. Man tell has crept in a very easy, and, we must 
confess, most ingenious manner. Probably alarmed at the idea of discussing the 
point before a fashionable audience in Brighton, he has “ contented himself” with 
an abstract from a sermon by the Bishop of London ! Such a course may please 
the worthy prelate alluded to, but whether it will satisfy an enlightened public 
must be considered very doubtful. * 
We have before explained the geological arrangement of the strata; but as this 
is the basis of the science, and ought to be kept distinctly in view, we shall here 
repeat it, with a few additional observations. The primary rocks are crystalline, 
and consequently it is inferred, that they owe their origin solely to igneous 
agency. They consist of lavas of various ages,—granite, sienite, porphyry, &c. 
They are the lowermost rocks, and contain no organic remains.—The transition 
rocks are superimposed upon the preceding, and are more or less distinctly strati¬ 
fied, being, in fact, strata modified by the combined effects of great heat and high 
pressure. They contain remains of Corals, shells, plants, &c.—Above these 
lie the secondary rocks , formed from the destruction of the more ancient beds— 
not, like them, by igneous agency, but being subaqueous deposits in hollows and 
depressions. They accordingly originally lay in horizontal layers or “ strata,” 
but have since for the most part been more or less dislodged by various means. 
* We may here observe, that both before and after the publication of The Naturalist for June, 
we were duly warned that our remarks on this topic would injure the sale of the Journal. We 
could only reply, that we had a better opinion of the good sense of our readers than to believe, 
a priori , that they would object to any discussion instituted with the view of advancing the great 
cause of truth; that if they did object to it, it would but prove the more forcibly the necessity of 
such inquiries; and, lastly, to advert to an entirely minor consideration, chat the more subscribers 
we lost, the greater the honour for us. We leave it to those who can reconcile such a course with 
their consciences, to repress or distort truth with the view of obtaining a circulation. But, in 
justice alike to the public and to ourselves, let us state, that half a hundred more copies were 
sold of the June than of any other number. The advice of our kind friends was, therefore, a 
little misplaced. 
