in his autograph, from the spring of 1717 to the autumn of the same year. Early in the following year 1718, upon the joint recommendation of Mr. Edw. Talbot and Dr. Samuel Clarke, he was chosen preacher at the Rolls Court, which honourable appointment he received before he had completed his twenty-sixth year. He resigned it in 1726, early in which year he published "Fifteen sermons, preached at the Rolls Chapel." Of these discourses, he remarks at the conclusion of the preface, that the reader "is not to look for any particular reason for the choice of the greatest part of them; their being taken from amongst many others preached in the same place through a course of eight years, being in great measure accidental." Yet of this volume thus selected, it was said by the late Dr. Chalmers in his Bridgewater treatise, that it "may safely be pronounced the most precious repository of sound ethical principles extant in any language." If some of these discourses are, as Butler himself acknowledges, very abtruse and difficult," others are plain and intelligible to the generality of readers, and convey lessons which cannot be too often repeated or meditated upon. Such are the sermons on the government of the tongue, on the character of Balaam, on self-deceit, on the love of God, and on the ignorance of man. It is scarcely possible for any one to read these sermons without benefit, or without being made, in some degree, sensible of the great powers of the writer. Well would it be for all, if the truths there unfolded were continually present to men's minds, and formed into practical principles, so as to render them of habitual influence. Of his great work, "The Analogy of Religion to the Constitution and Course of Nature," it must suffice to say, that from its first appearance it has been considered the most original and profound treatise extant in any language on the philosophy of religion. Its author was made Bishop of Bristol in 1738, and translated to Durham in 1750. He died at Bath, June 16, 1752, and was interred in the cathedral at Bristol. Six sermons, preached upon public occasions at different periods subsequent to his elevation to the episcopacy, and a charge to the clergy of the diocese of Durham, are published, together with the fifteen sermons already mentioned. Of these, one preached at the annual meeting of the charity children at Christ Church, London, in 1745, well deserves the attentive perusal of all who would form just notions of education, and of the necessity of schools for the poor. Some other interesting particulars of Bishop Butler, and of his contemporaries, may be found in Mr. Bartlett's memoirs of his life, character, and writings, to which we are mainly indebted for the foregoing sketch, and where our readers may meet with further instances in his more advanced years of that union of deep humility with the highest ability and the most uncompromising love of truth so conspicuous in the brief record of his early days, and which renders it so valuable and instructive an exemplification of the wisdom, whatever be our natural gifts, of setting lightly by ourselves, and of continually bearing in mind "the shortness of our faculties, and that we are, in no wise, judges of many things, of which we are apt to think ourselves very competent ones." N.

NEW GEOGRAPHY OF ENGLAND AND WALES. SIR,-Will you permit me to submit to the consideration of your readers, the plan of a new book on the Geography of England and Wales, which is now in the course of preparation? In making this request, I am influ

enced by the hope that some of the correspondents of the Journal will favour me with their opinion of the design, which, as will appear in the sequel, is characterized by some degree of novelty.

The subjects, which it has been thought right to include in the book, will be best seen from the table of contents, of which, as it at present stands, the following is a copy:

I. From this table it will be perceived that PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY has been deemed worthy of an unusual degree of attention.

i. The position which is occupied by this science in the general system of human knowledge, is that of a leading department of NATURAL HISTORY. In making this statement, we (of course) do not employ the last expression as it is sometimes employed; we do not understand by Natural History that which is only a part of it, viz., Zoology, or a description of animals. So far, indeed, is the science from being thus limited in its extent, that it is not confined even to the world which we inhabit, but claims, as within its province, every orb which the omnipotence of the Divine has posited in the immensity of space. Its subjects are contributed by the universe; they are the facts of the material creation, or (to express all in one word) it is a history of Nature,- -a Natural History. With our own earth we are best acquainted, and we can therefore describe the facts presented by it with more accuracy and fulness than those which are connected with other globes: all, however, belong to one science, and (however they may have been discovered) the description of them lies within the province of the natural historian.

The first department of natural history is the science of Descriptive Astronomy, which may be regarded as relating (1) to the heavenly bodies in general (including the earth); and (2) to the heavenly bodies with the exception of the earth. (1) Considered in the first point of view, astronomy describes (for instance) the forms and sizes of the heavenly bodies,-facts (the reader will observe) which may vary as they are presented by individual examples, but which are all capable of being generalized under one head. As another instance, may be mentioned the motions of the heavenly bodies; as the rotary motion of the sun and planets, with the orbicular motion of the latter, and the revolutions which some of the binary stars have been discovered to perform around each other. (2.) Among those facts which astronomy describes, when regarded in the second point of view, are the mountains in the moon, with whatever is known (or conjectured) respecting the superficies of the other orbs. These facts, it is obvious, might be classified with the corresponding facts of the earth; and, in a strictly scientific system, this would, perhaps, be done. Physical Geogra

phy would then not be (as it is) a leading division of Natural History, but only a sub-division,-a part of that science (however named) to which would be allotted, as its general subject, the superficial features of the heavenly bodies. The same remark is applicable to the conclusions which have been formed as to the atmospheres of some of the members of our own system (the earth excepted), to include which the province of Meteorology might be enlarged, and receive a general extension. The method, however, here indicated is not that which has been adopted; the description of the facts in question being referred to the science of Astronomy.— The remaining departments of natural history relate exclusively to our own globe. Physical Geography describes the external features of the earth(those features which have a physical or natural existence; an existence independently of man): Geology (which we will here understand to include Mineralogy) describes the materials and structure of the earth: Meteorology relates to the atmosphere and its phenomena: Botany describes the vegetable productions of the earth: while Zoology relates to its animated inhabitants.

To describe the superficies of the earth is (as we have seen) the peculiar province of Physical Geography. Astronomy, giving Astronomy, giving us only a distant view, exhibits the earth as a simple spheroid, twirling on its axis, and coursing round its central orb; while Geography, inviting us to a nearer approach and a more close inspection, points us to the features which diversify its surface. A slight allusion to some of the more prominent of these features is all that our limits will permit us to attempt.-With reference to the Land, geography bids us notice its occurrence in distinct patches, and not (as might have been the case) in a zone or band extending round the globe. These patches, not having a term expressive of their absolute character, she calls by a name derived from their relation to the water, and denominates them Islands. Our attention is also directed to some general peculiarities in the form of these islands, expressed by the terms Peninsula, Promontory, Cape, and Isthmus. Geography gives us, too, some idea of the sizes of the principal islands and peninsulas, those of very large extent being described as Continents. She asks us, also, to notice that the land lies chiefly in the northern hemisphere, and points out the fact that the large peninsulas of North and South America, and Africa, with several of the smaller ones (as Arabia, Hindustan, Italy, Scandinavia, and California) stretch towards the south; that Yucatan, York Peninsula (in Australia), and Jutland, tend towards the north; and Europe and Asia Minor towards the west and that there is a remarkable agreement between the eastern coast of America and the western coast of Africa. As connected with the surface of the land, geography bids us to notice its "mountains and all hills," as they occur in isolation, in groups, or in chains. She bids us observe their elevation, which, in the instance of Chimilari (one of the Himalayas), extends to 29,000 feet above the level of the sea. She informs us, likewise, that the central points of a group are frequently the highest, and that the middle range of a triple chain exceeds the others in elevation; that the elevation of a spur is greatest at its junction with the parent stem, and that the "first class chains have almost uniformly an abrupt descent on one side, and a gentler declivity on the other." Interesting particulars are also described in connection with valleys and caverns. Leaving the mountains, geography conducts us to the comparatively level parts of land; to the great European plain (for instance), with that which extends across the north of Asia; to the Prairies of North America; to the Llanos of the Orinoco, the Selvas of

the Amazon, and the Pampas of the La Plata, with the "Waterless Sea" of the African continent-the vast expanse of the terrible Sahara.—In the Ocean we are told to observe its currents, tides, and waves; and, as to the water as it is found on the land, our observation is directed to the phenomena of lakes, rivers, and springs. Our notice is also engaged by those frozen masses which lie around the poles (occupying there the surface of the sea); but which, as we proceed towards the Equator, are found only on the more elevated points of the land. Geography acquaints us likewise with the history of earthquakes, and describes the phenomena of vol

canoes.

ii. We must now endeavour to illustrate the VALUE of Physical Geography, in doing which we will consider it in a threefold view, viz., (1) as it is an Independent Science; (2) as it is Connected with other Natural Sciences; and (3) as it is Connected with the Moral History of Man.

1. As an Independent Science, physical geography is too extensive a subject for particular discussion in this place. We can only remark, that the subjects to which it relates are a class of natural facts distinct from every other class; and therefore that to be unacquainted with this science, is to be unacquainted with one of those sources of enjoyment which are presented by nature to the contemplative mind, and to leave unopened one large chapter of that volume, in which are written the natural evidences of the Creator's attributes. It would be obviously improper to omit the examination of even a small part of that other book, which is "profitable for doctrine" and "instruction," and to form our opinion of Christian truth, without having ascertained "how it is written" in every chapter. Must it not, then, be eminently unfitting to pass over so considerable a portion of the “ Book of Nature " as is embraced by the chapter of Physical Geography?

The interest of physical geography as an independent science is (of course) materially diminished, when, instead of its including a description of the whole earth, it is confined to the small area of England. In the political department of geography, England may claim the first place in the scale of importance; but, in the purely physical department of the science, there is scarcely any section of the earth's surface to which it must not yield the honour of precedence. Placed beside the majestic eminences of the continent (for example), the most elevated of our English hills would be too insignificant for notice; as the Alps and Pyrenees would yield, in their turn, to the towering heights of the Andes and Himalayas. Their heads, to reach the limit of eternal frost, would require an elevation more than twofold that which they actually possess. Their summits are destitute, therefore, of that hoary covering which mantles perpetually many of the highlands of the world; and in their hollows is found no specimen of the glacier, descending with slow and gradual advance towards the regions of cultivation, until perhaps the marvel were exhibited of flowery meads in contiguity with ice, and ears of corn kissing the product of extremest cold. On Snowdon, moreover, and Helvellyn, there hangs no massive avalanche ready to fall from its insecure position; and, rushing with tremendous impetus down the mountain's side, to tear in its headlong course even forests from their sites, and overwhelm the habitations of industry and peace. We are free, too, from that alarm which the inhabitants of volcanic regions frequently experience: we never hear those dreadful thunders of the earth,—the roaring of nature's subterranean artillery,—which he

announce the display of compared with the imTheir length is trifling,

rald the approach of spectacles more fearful, and terrifying sublimity. Our rivers, also, cannot be posing streams of many other parts of the world. and the volume of their water consequently small. Their course, too, after they cease to be "mere brooks and rivulets," is generally" even and noiseless;" no example being presented of the precipitous cataract, nor any considerable instance of the hasty rapid. Their junction, likewise, with the sea is effected without the production of those phenomena which characterize the embouchures of some of the larger rivers of the earth,-without (for example) that billowy embankment, a hundred feet in height, which arises from the conflict of the Amazon with the tide, and that tremendous roar, which proclaims for miles around the fury of the mighty combatants. Our English rivers, again, are not exposed to the operation of those causes which occasion the periodical overflow of many foreign streams: they are not, like the Tigris or Mississippi, swollen twice within the year; nor do they, like the Nile, annually flood their banks.

While, however, we must confess that the physical aspect of this coun try is destitute of those features which, in a general survey of the earth's surface, are calculated most powerfully to arrest the attention, we ought not therefore to conclude it undeserving our regard. It is not to these features, only, of the surface,—to the grand and the magnificent,—that the attention of the mind should be directed, but to the surface itself,—the surface in all its variety of form. Mountains and rivers, in general—(to adhere to our examples)—and not large mountains and rivers in particular, should be the subjects of our contemplation: the science, in short, of physical geography should be acquired, and not mere scraps and fragments of it. A knowledge of this science implies (of course) an acquaintance with the phenomena which are presented by the earth's surface generally; and, among the various classes of these phenomena, some will be found which embrace an example contributed by our own country. But when a class does embrace examples of this kind, they ought surely not to be overlooked. The subterranean course of the Tigris and the disappearance of the Guadana are facts to be remembered; but an Englishman should be aware of the "sullen Mole that hides his diving flood," just as a Frenchman or a Swiss should know that the rapid Rhone "runneth underneath." These observations have reference to the character which ought to be assumed by a general treatise on physical geography, in which the facts of this country should be exhibited, in their respective classes, as a part of the general facts of the earth's surface; but exhibited with that degree of prominence to which they are entitled, as facts occurring (as it were) at our own doors. Such a treatise however, is (we believe) yet to be added to our school literature; and, until the deficiency be supplied, it seems not improper to place in the hands of youth a manual exhibiting the more important of these facts, and teaching, with a view to its strictly scientific aspect, the physical geography of England. The partial knowledge thus communicated would be far from compensating the want of an extended acquaintance with the earth's surface; but its possession would be better than entire ignorance, as it is better to be acquainted with the plants and animals of England, than to know nothing of botany and zoology. We have attempted, however, to enlarge the reader's view beyond the limits of our own country, and to impress on the first part of our book something of the character of a general treatise.

2. In considering physical geography as it is Connected with other Natural Sciences, we shall confine our attention to a single example, and speak only of Geology.