The Simplicity of the Creation ; or, the Astronomical Monument
of the Blessed Virgin. By William Adolf. Second Edition. (Barns and Lambert.)--Another of the many treatises which have appeared of late, which in the opinion of their authors overturn the labours of Newton and all the scientific men who have succeeded him. Mr. Adolf's theory is, however, mixed up with a vindication of the Mosaic cosmogony and a great deal of scathing criticism of Protestantism, and as a devout Roman Catholic he dedicates his work to the Blessed Virgin. He is prompted to this by two miracles worked by "that sublime and exalted model of womankind the B.V." By one of these prodigies his wife recovered the use of her legs, as is told in the dedication. In the sequel we learn how her body after death was preserved from corruption twenty days. "To me," says Mr. Adolf, "het state in death is but a consequence of her life, which was moderate in her meals, fervent in her devotion, generous, noble, and ardent to a fault in her feelings, with a most exalted purity of mind, and an extraordinary patience in suf- fering, all the more pleasing to God, as she was also of a warm temper ; and as once before in life He favoured her with a special mark of His love, so no doubt as a reward for her patient suffering during seven years in the prime of life, He also bestowed on her the privilege of her body being so lovely in death, and thus far preserved from corruption." We think this passage gives in more ways than one tho measure of the author's capacity for the task he has undertaken. Why is it a pri- vilege that your corpse should not decay for three weeks ?
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