sider the numerous detached papers to be found in our medical and philosophical journals for the past thirty years, on morbid anatomy, and the consequent regard with which our countrymen seem to have attended to investigations of this nature, we cannot but marvel that something approaching in design and execution the production before us, had not been long ago attempted. Professor Gross does justice to the native performance of Dr. Horner-his own elaborate labors, evinced in the pages now at hand, by the extent of his inquiries, the mass of his materials, his enlightened disposition of the same, and the integrity of the whole, as a body of pathological truth, will go far to remove any reproach that might otherwise have been cast upon American physicians, for neglect or indifference to so vital a branch of medical philosophy. The appearance of this work of Dr. Gross will, we are persuaded, have a powerful and salutary influence in awaking greater attention than heretofore to pathological investigations by the professors of our numerous medical schools, and render abnormal formations, the result of morbid action, a matter of regard by the teacher in the dissecting room, no less instructive than the expositions which flow from the profoundest displays of structural and functional arrangement in the healthy system. The author well remarks, "considerable space is occupied with discussions relative to the normal characters of the various organs and tissues of the body. Disquisitions of this sort, though they trench upon another, but kindred department, are indispensable to a clear and intelligible comprehension of the fundamental principles of pathological anatomy. Without a knowledge of the natural color, weight, volume, and consistence of a structure, how is it possible to obtain distinct conceptions of the numerous and diversified alterations induced in it by disease? The thing is utterly impossible. Without, therefore, a competent share of information of this kind, it is obvious that no physician, whatever may be the extent of his attainments in other respects, can successfully execute the duties of a pathological anatomist." Perplexing and severe as such a task faithfully executed must have been, our author has accomplished it in a manner that challenges our admiration, and in this double light we view his services as enriching two studies, however distinct apparently, yet most closely associated with the express objects which the pathologist has ever before him. Professor Gross will receive the approbation of the philosophical and clinical physicians of both hemispheres.

15. Psychology, or a View of the Human Soul, including Anthropology-being the substance of a Course of Lectures delivered to the Junior Class, Marshall College, Penn. By FREDERICK A. RAUCH. New York: 1840. M. W. Dodd. 8vo. pp. 388.

THIS work we judge, as well from the author's name, as from the manner of thinking and expression, to be the production of one of

our Americanized Germans. In the preface, the author informs us, that it was his wish to combine into one new and systematic whole, adapted to the state of this country, whatever is best in German and English philosophy. We do not think he has perfectly succeeded. The character of his work, as to form, method, development, mode of thought, and language, has a predominating German cast. We notice, also, a want of sufficient development in some places, a want of due explanation of terms in others; and the clear understanding of many of the illustrations would require, a kind and amount of knowledge, and a maturity of the thinking powers, rarely to be found in under-graduate students. Besides, the leading views, which it is the author's object to establish by his analysis, observations, and illustrations, are not synthetically expressed, with that systematic order and connexion, and with that fulness, precision, and clearness, which are so important in enabling the student not only to comprehend and thoroughly master the principle of a science, but also to retain and express them for himself. For these reasons, we do not think this work will be found as well fitted for a text book in academic instruction as we could wish. In saying this, we do not by any means design to condemn the work as absolutely defective in the particulars we have mentioned; but only that it does not fulfil in a sufficient degree the conditions which we wish to see realized in a work for academic instruction.

As to the rest, this volume has many excellencies and merits; and to those who have an interest in such studies, and are familiar only with the principal English and French philosophical writers, we can recommend the work as one which they will find interesting and instructive-particularly the first part of the volume, containing the preliminary treatise of Anthropology, or the science of the Soul considered in its relations with the body and external nature, and their reciprocal influence; and also the first half of the second part, devoted to Psychology, or the science of the Soul in its phenomena in themselves. They will find many rich and exceedingly fruitful remarks; and many points set in a clear and striking light by forcible (and to most English readers) novel analogies. This is particularly true in regard to the analogies drawn from the dynamic and vital forces of nature. The discrimination of the vital or plastic life of nature from the animal instinct, and of both from intelligence; and the remarks on the difference and union of soul and body in man, are portions of the work of great interest and value, and important in their bearing upon materialism. In regard to the instinct of animals, we should be glad to offer some remarks, if we had space. We can only say, that we do not reckon under the same category of instinct, those actions of animals which invariably adopt the same means for the same ends, under all circumstances, and those which vary the means with varying circumstances.

We perceive that Mr. Rauch, very creditably to himself, as an independent and clear headed thinker, has avoided the equally un

philosophical extremes into which most writers in this country have fallen in regard to Phrenology; he neither absolutely rejects all its facts with scorn, nor admits its exaggerated pretensions of replacing all anterior mental science. So too in regard to Animal Magnetism, he gives a calm and sensible view of its facts and its possible truth, and also of its errors and superstitions.

Without taking upon us to point out in detail the particulars in which we should agree with and differ from Mr. Rauch, we feel justified, from our examination of his work, to commend its general spirit and principles as sound and safe. He neither maintains the destructive and atheistic materialism which has been developed from the principles of Locke, nor the equally destructive and atheistic Idealism of Fichte, Hegel, etc.; nor yet, like too many among us, does he hold to the principles of Materialism or of Idealism, without perceiving their destructive consequences.

We are sorry to notice so many typographical errors in a work so handsomely brought out in other respects. The distance of the author from the press excuses him; but the publisher should have secured a better corrector of the proofs. The errors are very numerous, and materially impair the value of the work.

16. The Doctrine of the Will, determined by an Appeal to Consciousness. By HENRY P. TAPPAN. New York: 1840. Wiley and Putnam. 12mo. pp. 318.

MR. TAPPAN'S name is already favorably known to the public, as the late editor of Edward's Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will, and the present independent work on the same subject will be received as a farther guarantee not only of his zeal, but ability in the labors of that metaphysical bottomless mine. The present work, however, differs from the former in the grounds on which the question is argued. That, considered it as a logical question; this, as a physiological one; both bearing, nevertheless, on the same result, and the maintenance of the same great truth-the inherent freedom of the human will. We agree, therefore, with Mr. Tappan, in his great conclusion, that the will is free, and that we ourselves are in the universe" contingent and free causes." We agree with him, too, in his estimate of the opposite error, namely, that the absorption of the will in other principles, and its virtual annihilation, is the greatest error ever made in philosophy, and the most pregnant parent of error."-p. 318. There is a farther point, too, of agreement between us; and that is, that the demonstration of this allimportant truth is most conclusively made in this, his latter form of argument, that is, treating it as a fall of our nature, and not as a problem of our understanding, one to be settled therefore physiologi

cally, rather than logically. In this matter, however, the preference here expressed is our own, not Mr. Tappan's judgment; he urges both as of equal validity; though in truth we ourselves go farther than preference, and maintain the freedom of the will to be a simple fact, and nothing else, and no more to be supported by reasoning, than any other fact, whether within us or without us. Now, under all these agreements of opinion as to the conclusion arrived at, and the proper form of proof here at least adopted by him, as well as in his estimate of the opposing error, it would seem as if we critics must be admirers of the work in which all this is contained, and yet we must in truth acknowledge it is not so. We doubt the benefit

to the mind, of any metaphysics of the will; to the mind, we mean, that has not already been led into error of judgment by the same pretended guide. We believe that men who never puzzle their heads about the matter, are the very men who most conclusively hold it, and that no man ever doubts his freedom of choice, but he sets out with making that assurance doubly sure, by proving it. Take any analogous case. It is all important, for instance, that men should believe that they possess a faculty of vision; and the truest mode to prove it, is unquestionably not by reasoning upon it, but by appeal to fact; and of all errors in philosophy, the denial of this power of sight would be unquestionably among the most fatal, and yet for all that, we should feel little patience in toiling through a volume that should yet most conclusively demonstrate it. This, however, doubtless is a matter of taste. Some minds may be otherwise constituted, and love to have a demonstration of the sun that is shining around them. For ourselves, we are content to believe it by its own light, and rather to employ ourselves about the duties to which that light calls us, than to speculate whether or no it is shining upon our heads. To such, indeed, as have shut their eyes to this great truth, as Calvinistic reasoners have done, more especially the last century, we acknowledge the value of such a speculation, and beseech them now to open their eyes but to read this book of one who once thought as they now do, and we can promise them they will not so readily close them again. Nature and common sense, as well as Mr. T.'s argument, will leave them little excuse for such folly.

But to turn to the work before us. The present is but one of the many indications among us of the revolution at the present moment openly or secretly at work within the bosom of the Presbyterian church in our country; a rebellion, it may be said, of the heart and the reason against dogmas imposed by an unscriptural because metaphysical creed. That this movement is destined to become a volcano within that body, we doubt not; all things show it. Its inward rumblings are already heard throughout our land; its opening vents pour forth, some cloud and smoke, some red hot burning lava. Coleridge and his philosophy are among the stepping-stones which some make use of to effect

their escape from the overwhelming torrent, while others look more wisely to antiquity and the faith of the church catholic. For ourselves, we feel satisfied that they will find no rest, till, casting off the meshes of a metaphysical theology, they are content to rest in the simple scriptural faith of the church universal; neither seeking themselves to be wise above what is written, nor to impose on the conscience of others a heavier burthen than those necessary things, which make up the universal creed of the church in all ages. That alone, we think, is their point of rest; and, until they reach it, their necessary condition will be as it has been-that of restless oscillation -between extremes-the poles of fanaticism and infidelity. We hail, therefore, this work, and its right decision on this subject, as a needful medicine, at least, for stomachs gorged with foul metaphysics; it will serve to purge the bosom of that perilous stuff; it strikes at the root of the evil-the denial or the loss, through vain philosophy, of that which is and must be, the vital principle of all religion-the distinct recognition of FREE WILL in man-THE POWER OF CHOICE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. The denial or the loss we say of this fundamental truth of reason and fall of our nature, has been the canker worm that has long blighted, and will continue to blight, the fairest promise of Christian faith, in every denomination that holds it.

17. Essay on the Character and Influence of Washington, in the Revolution of the United States of America. Translated from the French.

and Company. 12mo. pp. 188.

Boston: 1840.

By M. Guizot.
James Munro

WE hoped to be able to give our readers a paper upon the subject of this volume, suited to its interest and importance, but it came into our hands too late to allow us to do it justice. At present, we can only announce its appearance, and say a few words about the translation. This essay in the original has gained for its author the admiration of Europe, and he has no occasion to fear that it will be less highly admired, by those who judge of it through the medium. of the present translation. So entirely does it preserve the spirit and beauty of the original, and what is most difficult of all in such a labor, such is its success in retaining that happy adaptation of style to subject, which is one of the great excellences of the author's writings, that we doubt not, it would be difficult even for Mr. Guizot himself, to decide whether it is in its French or English dress, that his admirable work appears to most advantage.