The Constitution of the Earth. By Robert Ward. (G. Bell
and Sons.)—That the author of this book is likely to entertain many original views, and to undertake, with a full sense of competence, the demolition of current theories concerning living and lifeless nature, may be gathered from a small collection of elegant extracts, which we herewith offer to the consideration of chemists, geologists, naturalists, and all whom they may concern :—" Wines and spirits undergo a well-known and constantly-operating change or evolution" (p. 5) ; "There is no reason to believe that the moon's physiological influence upon the earth is of such vital consequence as that of the sun" (p. 137) ; "The ether in which the earth moves affords an obvious and boundless material for the creation of clouds" (p. 251) ; "How have cracks and fissures originated ? It is con- sistent with the view of creation now propounded that the earth is increasing in magnitude If air, water, light, and heat may be converted into coal and limestone "(p. 260) ; "Cracks
on the land become natural watercourses" (p. 263) ; "Hydrogen gas is fifteen times lighter than atmospheric air, and therefore in the free gaseous condition, can only exist in the ethereal regions outside of the earth's atmosphere" (p. 333). If there be in Mr. Robert Ward's volume many scores of strange, yet confident, surmises as to the past and present condition of our earth, it is some satisfaction to be assured by this author that his knowledge of the future has limits. He says (p. 381), "I do not even profess to know what may be the will of the Almighty as to the future destiny of the earth."
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