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    THE SPIRITUALIST . The Sjpiritvalist • JBein ^ a short Exposition of Psychology based upon Material Truths and of the Faith to which it Leads . ByD . P . G . L . Booth . Thebe is a congestion , of type in this curious and elegantly printed volume , ¦ which not inaptly corresponds with the congestion of folly it expounds . Old ZEnglish in loud emphasis of capitals , small caps , and notes of admiration , proclaim that "the watchwords of Progress are Spiritualism in Religion , Mesmerism in Science , and Republicanism in Politics , " a very pretty trio , from which nothing less can be expected than redeimt Saitirnea regna . " Brother , " exclaims D . F . G-., in his opening old English of large type , "I believe in God the Great Trinity ! My reason tells me He must bemy soul -whispers—He is ! . " ¦ This unprovoked confession at the commencement of such a work reminds us of Alexandre Dumas , who winds up the dedication to : i five act play by the equally relevant exclamation : Je crois a Vimmortalite de fame . The world is happy to hear it . continues his confession of faith in

    D . F . G . the same loud type , assuring a listening world that he believes in " the illusion of matter and the equivocation of the senses . " But we spare the reader more of this dithyrambic outbreak , and pass on to the dialectic "Elucidation" which opens thus : — 33 iotl ) er , We are conscious of both a spiritual and a material existence . I believe that existence is but the manifested Will of the Creator . In myself I call Life that which reveals to me my existence . Spiritual life ; Consciousness , the life of the Mind , Perception and Reflection . Material life ; Sensation . Thus I believe life to > be motion or action . All motion originates in the Spirit- —Spiritual Action is spiritual life , and organized Physical motion is Physical life . And perfect passiveness aad quietude is simple existence . After rubbing his eyes , the reader , also prone to believe in "" the illusion of ' matter" when this kind ; of matter is before him , rejoices to think that an explanation is coming : — - Above all things it is necessary to understand the relation of Spirit to matter .

    This relation is established by the laws of Nature . Thus the relation of God to matter is that of the Creator to the created , in the fullest sense of the idea . But to the Body and the reason of man , matter truly and actually exists , and the influence of his will upon it is controlled and modified by tho laws of Mature , that is , by the Will of God . I have said that matter is influenced by the spirit , but between them there is an intermediate agency . I believe , and experimental science tends to prove , that this agency is the same in every case in Nature . InotUer words , that there is but one subtle and . imponderable agency between matter and the spirit either directly or indirectly . Et is 15 c gvcat SCrutrj of Sptrttnaltsm aiiis of ^ sjic&ologtcalscience , —Sflfjat all matter is sub jet t to tfje fa til of &Han , inasmuch as its influence is not coun = teracteu tj » tfle latos of iBature cv ifje iMAill at < Skoti .

    Though the influence of the Will upon matter may in certain cases be counteracted , yet facts and analogies do not permit us to doubt that this influence in such cases is actually exerted , and takes place ; and that the soul of man , made in the image and likeness of his Creator , affects matter in itself . 3 $ ut we are so accustomed to consider the matter of our own bodies as being : alone , and , to a very limit ed , extent , subject to oiir-will , that some may have a difficulty in realizing this great principle in its full extent . " Some may have a difficulty : " to obviate that the author kindly elucidates 5 e . g ..- — © rflanic structure conei&erclJ tottfj reference to iijjgstrat ntotfon is merelg a setifs or grabalion of agencies , llje objert of toljicf ) is to overcome tfje inertia anu gravitation ut matter . By this we perceive the difference in the relation of the Will to organic and to inorganic matter .

    In the one case tlie influence of the will is generally overcome by the inherent properties of matter , in the otber case these properties are surmounted by raeans of an organic mechanism . Is the reader in a proper state of lucidity after this elucidation ? If so he -will rejoice to Lear that these " considerations lead us to the beautiful facts of Mesmeric Science and Cerebral Physiology : "In order to form a . clear idea of the human soul , both in tlie phonomena it exhibits in relation to matt er , and also in abstract thought , it is necessary to consider it in the living human being in three distinct points of view , or as an intimate combination of three principles , of which two are incidental to the other in tho state in which it exists . These are—1 . The " Spiritus , " or Soul , properly so called ; 2 . The Mind , or Keasoning faculty ; and , 3 . Life or Animation .

    TLhus we have tlie gradation of purely Spiritual existence , Mental existence , and Animal life ; which , with Vegetable life and Physical existence , constitute the chain of creation . ^ To minds so superficial and incompetent as our own these " clear" expositions do not present all the lucidity desirable . If any reader feels himself more competent to grasp the mighty conceptions of this Spiritualist he can seek them in the volume itself , which certainly deserves a place among the curiosities of Literature .

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    tioned the merits or the interest of Knox's account , which resulted from a residence of twenty years . A Long Vacation ^ Ramble in Norway and Sweden . By X . and Y . ( Two Unknown Quantities . ) ( Cambridge : Macmillan . )—We instinctively despise a biographer who believes , and acts upon the belief , that all a great man ' s cbatterings deserve to be recorded . And we are soon weary of a traveller who , though not a great man , congeals in print all the light spray of steamboat conversation or dinner-table humour . Robinson was , no doubt , amusing at Paris , "but why put his puns in post octavo ? Jones may have

    enlivened the ladies at Geneva , but do not ask the public to be amused ? If Englishmen will carry abroad the deadly habit of joking , we "beg them to allow that element to evaporate over broad-mouthed goblets of Burgundy or Rhine , and to write as travellers pure and simple , if at all . In some cases the ofienoe is easily repelled by throwing the book aside ; but when a volume of genuine pictures is only here and there defaced by patches of nonsense , our regret is excited for the folly of the author . The " Two Unknown Quantities" have much to say of an interesting kind about Norway and Sweden—landscapes , interiors , costumes , ways and means of life , personal manners , arts , and institutions ; but ever and anon they become

    what Byron called nimminy pimminy wags , or else they rally the reader £ a the stylo that usually betokens a supper of cold fowl and crackers . "A Long Vacation Ramble , " with these drawbacks , is an entertaining book . Episodes in the War-Life of a Soldier : with the Dream-Testimony of Orcc Mar / , and Other Sketches in Prose and Verse . By Calder Campbell . ( Skeffington . )—Calder Campbell has a mild , steady , enjoyable reputation as a poet . His earliest verses came from India , bright with banana yellow and quava pink , and pomegranate blushes , and some of the melodies played like Indian fountains , warm and fragrant . This is a volume of mingled rhyme and prose , light , elegant , and original . The prose is amusing , and sometimes graphic ; but we meet Major Campbell with most sympathy in his poetical moods . If we must be critical , however , we will point to one inconsistency which surprises us in tlie writings of one usually so graceful and so scholarly . The word "palms" is made to rhyme in the same piece with " warms" and " arms . "

    Contributions to an Amateur Magazine , in Prose and Verse . By Richard , Perry . ( Booth . J—Eighteen of Mr . Perry's contributions relate to Australia , and these are the most readable of his prose varieties . The others on Pitt and Wilberforce are generally commonplace . Of the poetry , we have been most struck by one or two free renderings from the Greek . Australian . Essays on Subjects Political , Moral , and Religious . By James Norton , senior . ( Longman and Co . )—This doubtfully-decorated little quarto contains thirty-two essays on almost as many subjects . Mr . Norton is an old colonist , and a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales ; but he writes most frequently neither on colonial nor political topics , but on abstract problems—mysteries , eternity , the resurrection , beauty , memory , &c , and does some honour to the community of which he is a member by producing a series well worth perusal . Stone upon stone , we see an academy rising in the Australian settlements , and it may not bp long before the literature of America is rivalled at the antipodes .

    Patrick Hamilton , the First Preacher and Martyr of the Scottish Reforvut lion . An Historical Biography from Original Sources . By the Rev . Peter Lorhner . ( Edinburgh : Constable . )—A Life of Hamilton was -wanted . It has been written with zeal and discrimination by Mr . Lorhner , who has had access to some -very curious and . valuable books . We are glad to see that it is to be followed by biographies of Alesius , and Sir David Lindsay of the Mount- The authors will do well to eniulate the steadiness and moderation of Mr . Lorimer ' s style . Boy-Princes ; or , Scions of Royalty cut off in Youth . By John C Ed ^ ar .

    With Kight Illustrations . ( Eogue . )—We are afraid that Mr . Edgar has compiled this volume in a hurry . It is loosely and feebly put together . The apocryphal is largel y mixed up with tho history ; a repulsive infusion of loyal cant interferes with the truthfulness of the narrative . We do > not recommend such a book as healthy reading for boys . Harry and His Homes . By the Author of" Amy Carlton . " ( Routledge . ) —A story for boys , told in a quiet , moralising way , with little incident and a vast preponderance of sententious dialogue . It may become a favourite with parents , but they will have some difficulty in teaching the young idea to sympathize with Harry ,

    Duty to Parents ; Honour thy le ather and Mother . ( Hope . )—Perhaps this excellent little volume may assist the parents above alluded to . It is a well-planned , well-executed book . ^ Deborah ; or , Fireside Reading for Household Servants . With a Postscript for Musters ami Mistresses . By the Rev . Norman M'Leod . ( Edinburgh : Constable and Co . )—We do not . appreciate the value of devotional books addressed to special classes , nor can we understand how tho Christianity of a domestic servant should be distinguished from that of her mistress ; but Mr . M'Leod finds an opportunity for much genial and kindly indoctrination . Ho ? o to make Home Happy ; or , Hints and Cautions for All . With Five Hundred Odds and Ends toorth Remembering . By William Jones , F . S . A . ( Uogue . )—Mr . Jones is a man of versatile capacity . He travels with the photographers in Yorkshire ; he writes monastic Horai ; and lie mixes this wonderful ollctpodridu . of cookery , gardening , « arpet dusting and platitude —a useful , but an eccentric volume . Every page is set in a frame of wise saws ; some of which are pre-eminently foolish , others practical : " An oath

    A BATCH OF BOOKS . Ceylon ; Past and Present . By Sir George Barrow , Bart . With a Map , by John Arrow-smith . { Murray . )—Sir George Bamnv has produced a brief , p leasant , and satisfactory summary of all that is known of the loveliest island of Asia . To a narrative of Robert Knox ' s captivity in Ceylon , from the year 1 G 59 to his escape in 1079 , he has added an epitome . skilfully condensed from successive authors , so that the book may be described as almost a manual . Mr . Arrowsinith ' map is , as he remarks , the most complete and authentic yet published . NVith respect to Robert Knox , it is singular that his work , though more interesting than most , romances , should have continued to this day an unread quarto ; we have frequently wished for its reappearance in a more popular form . Sir George Barrow skims the cream ot its adventure and observation , and compiles a really attractive storyv JNo one acquainted with the literature of travel in Ceylon has ever

    quesis a recognizance to Heaven . " " A Christian is the highest stylo of man . " " The rind of young bacon is always thin . " " ¦ A talkative nurse is a great annoyance to an invalid . " " Diligence is the great harbinger of truth " ( whatever that may mean ) . " A fire for frying should bo free from sinokj coals . " Mr . Jones is more lively in kitchens and cellars than in oratories anc arm-chairs . Part of his didactism is to be laughed at , part is to be obeyed . The Seven . Cfturcfos of Asia . By the Kav . Robert Maguire , M . A ( Knight and Son . )—It is a long way from Mr . Jonea to Mr . Maguiro , bui Mr . Maguire might be neglected if not noticed at this opportunity . Hit book contains historical illustrations of Christianity , and is altogether devo tional in its tone and in its object .

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    March 14 , 1857 . ] T H E L E A P E R . 257

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), March 14, 1857, page 257, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2184/page/17/