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    of an elaborate work on Embryologische Geologic , in which he undertakes to show that not only is this planet of ours an organism of which geology is the embryogeny , but that this organism has a history in all essential respects analogous with the history of the development of an animal organism . The globe is an egg on a gigantic , scale ; what the microscopist reveals respecting the gradual evolution of an organism from a simple cell , the geologist reveals , on a grander scale , respecting the evolution of animal life on the crust of the earth . In both egg and plaftet we have first a globular mass of fluid undergoing a successive series of differentiations , which result in the form of a germinal membrane on the surface of the e «* g , and in the form of a solid crust on the suface of the globe . This membrane is subsequently differentiated into three layers , this crust is differentiated into three "

    formations : " upon this membrane and out of these layers the embryo is developed , and out of this crust the animal and vegetable kingdoms arise . We cannot enter further into , the details of a theory which will be regarded by many as a merely ingenious exercise of fancy . The point to which we desire attention is this : If the planet be regarded as an organism in the course of development , and if Life be regarded as inseparable from the planet—as the evolution from an egg—not only are all our views altered with respect to the old problems of the successive appearance of animal life upon the crust of the earth , but geology itself becomes a part of biology , and the operation of mechanical and chemical laws becomes as accessory in it as in biology , i- « ., constant , necessary , but modified by biological laws . crust formedand then

    Instead of supposing that the earth was , vegetables and 4 ™* n » 1 « were formed fitted to live on it , this theory declares that the earth crust and the organic being are one ; the organism is developed from the crust as the embryo is from the germinal membrane . And , indeed , when we think of the many rocks which are now proved to be composed of the remains of millions of organic beings—when we think of the admitted fact that not only tripoli ( a siliceous stone ) is composed of infusoria or microscopic plants , but that " these discoveries lead us naturally , " to use Lyell ' s words , " to suspect that other deposits * of which the materials have been supposed to be inorganic , may in reality have been derived from organic bodies , " the conclusion is no longer so startling of an identification of the earth crust and the earth inhabitants . Byron exclaimed ,

    The dust -we tread upon was once alive , and in allusion to it Lyell says , " How faint an idea does this exclamation of the poet convey of the real wonders of nature ! for here we discover prooft that the calcareous and siliceous dust of which hills are composed has not only been once alive , but almost every particle , albeit invisible to the naked eye , still retains the organic structure which , at periods of time incalculably remote , was impressed upon it by the powers of life . " The reader sees at once what a new aspect is given to geology by considering it as the embryogeny of our planet , and how all the changes , all the formations which the geologist notes , come to be regarded as subservient Xo the evolution of Life . But we dare not pursue the subject . Our purpose was to call attention to a very valuable book , and we have been led into a digression . To those fond of speculation Sir Charles Lyell ' s works are useful for the clear exposition of the facts on which speculation must rest ; and to those who desire the facts , without being troubled with speculation , no better guide could be recommended .

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    ISRAEL POTTER . Israel Potter : His Fifty Years of Exile . By Herman Melville . Routledge . This is a curiously unequal book . The subject—the adventures of a Yankee prisoner in England at the time of the American War—is an admirable one ; and the treatment , for a little more than the first half of the volume , snows such vigour , freshness , and artist-like skill , that as we read on to the Fourteenth Chapter , we felt disposed to rank Israel Potter as incomparably the best work that Mr . Melville had yet written . The characters introduced- —including , besides minor celebrities , George the Third and Doctor Franklin—were conceived and developed with such genuine dramatic feeling ; the incidents were all so striking , and many of them so original ; and the style , bating an occasi o nal Americanism , was so hearty and graphic that it was quite refreshing to read the book , after the trash we have had to

    examine lately , in the vain hope of discovering something worthy to be recommended to our readers . After the Fourteenth Chapter , however , we were sadl y disappointed to find that the work began to decline steadily in literary merit , and , excepting one or two detached scenes , to grow duller and duller the nearer it got to the end . The main causes of this curious falling off we found to be obvious enough . In the first place , the least successful character in the biographical story—Paul Jones—is the character which is most fully developed in the latter portions of it . In the second place , Mr . Melville follows his hero ' s fortunes , from the time of his being taken prisoner by the English , with great minuteness in the beginning and middle of the book , and then suddenly generalises towards the end for the sake of getting to the death of " Israel Potter , " without exceeding the compass of one small volume . This is a fatal mistake in Art . An author who ceases to bo

    general and becomes particular , is certain of exciting his readers' interest . But an author who ceases to be particular and becomes general , in all cases where the drawing of human character is in question , is sure to lose his hold of the reader in the most disastrous manner . Mr . Melville may urge truly enough , that in writing of " Fifty Years of Exile" in a man ' s life , it was absolutely necessary for him to generalise somewhere . We have only to answer that he had better have generalised anywhere rather than in the latter portions of the story . If he had left his hero's life in London and death in America for another volume , and if he had drawn his pen through at least half the sea-scenes in which Paul Jones figures , he would have given us , not only his best book , but the best book that any American author has written for a long time past . As it is , Israel Potter is the work of an original thinker and vi&orous writer , damaged by want of constructive ability—or , in plainer and shorter words , by want of Art . [ Defective , however , as it may be , wo cun honestly recommend our readers to buy this book , if only for the sake of reading the interesting and

    powerfully-written chapters which describe the American prisoner ' s early career in England—and especially that particular chapter which narrates his interview with Doctor Franklin . We should feel tempted to extract some part of this latter passage in the story if we had space enough to do the author justice . The scene between Israel" and George the Third is shorter , and we can , therefore , give it at full length , first explaining that the Yankee has escaped from the English soldiers , has met with a kind friend , and has got into snug quarters as one of the assistants in the Royal Gardens at Kew . Here is the interview that follows between

    THE BKBEL . AND THB KINO . As he was one day grovelling a little by-walk , wrapped in thought , the king turning a clump of bushes , suddenly brushed Israel's person . Immediately Israel touched his hat—but did not remove it—bowed , and was retiring ; -when something in his air arrested the king ' s attention . 44 You ain't an Englishman—no Englishman—no , no . " Pale as death , Israel tried to answer something ; but , knowing not what to say , stood frozen to the ground . "You are a Yankee—a Yankee , " said the king again in his rapid and half-stammering way . Again Israel essayed to reply , but could not . What could he say ? Could he He to a king ? " Yes , yes—you are one of that stubborn race—that very stubborn race . What brought you here ? " The fate of war , sir . "

    " May it please your majesty , " said a low cringing voice , approaching , " this man is in the walk against orders . There is some mistake , may it please your majesty . Quit the walk , blockhead , " he hissed at Israel . It was one of the junior gardeners who thus spoke . It seems that Israel had mistaken his directions that morning . " Slink , you dog , " hissed the gardener again to Israel ; then aloud to the king , " A mistake of the man , 1 assure your majesty . " u Go you away—away -with ye , and leave him with me , " said the king . Waiting a moment till the nian was out of hearing , the king again turned upon Israel .

    " Were you at Bunker Hill ?—that bloody Bunker Hill—eh , eh ?" " Yes , sir . " " Fought like a devil—like a very devil , I suppose ?" " Yes , sir . " " Helped flog—helped Hog my soldiers ?" " Yes , sir ; but very sorry to do it . " " Eh ?—eh ?— how ' s that ?" " I took it to be my sad duty , sir . " " Very much mistaken—very much mistaken , indeed . Why do you sir me?—eh ? I'm your king—your king . " " Sir , " said Israel firmly , but with deep respect , " I have no king . "

    " The king darted his eye incensedly for a moment ; but without quailing , Israel , now that all was out , still stood with mute respect before him . The king , turning suddenly , walked rapidly away from Israel a moment , but presently returning with a less hasty pace , said , " You are rumoured to be a spy—a spy , or something of that sort—ain ' t you ! But I know you are not—no , no . You are a runaway prisoner of war , eh ? You have sought this place to be safe from pursuit , eh ? eh ? Is it not so ? —eh ? eh ? eh ?" " Sir , it is . " " Well , ye're an honest rebel—rebel , yes , rebeL Hark ye , hark . Say nothing of this talk to any one . And hark again . So long as you remain here at Kew , 1 shall see that you are safe —safe . " "God bless your majesty !" " Eh ?"

    " God bless your noble majesty ?" " Come—come—come , " smiled the king in delight , " I thought I could conquer ye —conquer ye . " " Not the king but the king ' s kindness , your majesty . " "Join my army—army . " Sadly looking down , Israel silently shook his head . " You won't ? Well , gravel the walk then—gravel away . Very stubborn racevery stubborn race , indeed—very—very—very . " And still growling , the magnanimous lion departed . This is neatly and dramatically written . It is by no means the best passage in the book ; but it will do to whet the reader ' s appetite , and to make him follow the example of Master Oliver Twist , and—" ask for more . " A .

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    BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . A Glossary of Military Terms : intended as a Handbook for Senior Officers , Candidate * for Commissions , and Readers of Military History . Longman , Brown , Green , and Longmans . Lives of Men of letters of the Time of George III . By Henry , Lord Brougham , F . R . 8 ., &c . Kichard Griffin and Co . Jliatory of the Catholic Missions among the Indian Tribts of the United States , 1529--1854 . By John Gilmary Shea . TrUbner and Co . The World a Workshop : or , the Physical Relationshi p of Man to the Earth . By Thomas Ewbank . T . rubiier and Co . Israel Potter : his Fifty Years of Exile . By Herman Melville . G . RoutledtfO and Co . Small Farms : a Practical Treatise , intended for Persons inexperienced in Ifttfit / andry , but desirous of Employing Time and Capital in the Cultivation of the Soil , ity Martin Doyle . G . Koutlcdgoand Co The Courier , to St . Petersburg , the Charge , and other Poems . Binns and Goodwin

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    THE ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION . We have only space and opportunity tins week , to indicate briefly the general character of the Royal Academy Inhibition . Tlio collection contains some low pictures which are certainly equal , perhaps , in one or two cases , supi-nor in merit , to the best works exhibited last year . But these examples of success arc « o rare , and the examples of failure arc , on the other hand , ho numerous ana flagrant , that the Exhibition must bo pronounced a decidedly inferior one as a whole—inferior , not only to the picture-show of last year , but even to the I ) lct . ^" shows of many years before that . This unsatisfactory result has , we l ) Ol ' * been in great part produced by the disgraceful incompetence and injimtico ot tno Hanging Committee—the very worst , wo feel tempted to say , that ever nnsusoa

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• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 5, 1855, page 428, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2089/page/20/