tent with my suggestions." Great philosophers, like Newton and Laplace, while boldly grasping the law of attraction, shrunk from the principle. They were content to regard it as out of the domain of Philosophy-as an ultimate fact. Not so Mr. Poe. "1 here declare the modus operandi of the Law of Gravity to be an exceedingly simple and perfectly explicable thing," says he. Now for it. Matter as we have seen, has been diffused, irradiated into space, and the supposition, nay the truth is, that it has been irradiated, not as light is, but so as to have a generally equable distribution, i. e. so as to be no more crowded, near the centre, than at a distance. How then could matter have been diffused so as to fulfill at once the conditions of irradiation, and equable distribution? The explanation is perfectly simple. We have only to suppose that it was not by a single continuous volition of the Deity, but by a series of volitions, constantly lessening in energy, that matter was diffused.

The first ejection would deposite a stratum of matter in the form of a hollow sphere. The second ejection, with a force just adequate to the effect, would deposite a second layer, on the inside of this hollow sphere.

The third, of less energy, because less would be needed, would deposite another stratum, and so on till the space was all occupied.

Here then we have matter equably distributed, in a series of concentric strata, and of course the quantity of matter in any stratum is directly as its superficies. Now the surfaces of spheres are as the

squares of their radii.

Hence the quantity of matter in any stratum, is as the square of its distance from the centre. But the quantity of matter in any stratum, is as the force which emitted it.

Therefore generally, the force of the irradiations, has been directly as the squares of the distances. Gravity is the reaction of this force. Therefore Gravity is inversely as the square of the distance. Thus most conclusively is the Newtonian Gravity shown to be in harmony with the hypothesis of this discourse.

To be sure a few unimportant objections might be urged, as for instance, the ascertained principle of Dynamics, that bodies when once set in motion, will continue in motion forever, unless stopped. Thus matter irradiated from a centre in the way described, would continue its onward motion forever. This objection is disposed of very summarily. "It arises," says Mr. Poe, "from an unwarrantable assumption on the part of the objector, of a principle in Dynamics, at an epoch, when

no principles in anything exist." We see at once how idle it is, to urge any objections to his theory, drawn from the ascertained nature of things. We might however question the propriety of assuming the principles of mathematics, and reasoning from them, "at an epoch when no principles in anything exist." We could also if we were so disposed, adopt his own method of argumentation, and declare that an "irresistable intuition" forces us to the conclusion, that Mr. Poe's speculation is thus far at least a very great humbug.

At this point however, he seems to emerge partly from the mist, and to come if not within the bounds of common sense, at least, into the more beaten track of speculation.

On the withdrawal of the diffusive force, or the Divine volition, there arise at once, throughout the Universe, innumerable agglomerations of matter. Here we shall find ourselves met and borne onward for a time by that most magnificent of theories, the Nebular Cosmogony of Laplace, a theory perhaps too well known to need explanation here.

In connection with this theory, our author gives us rather incidentally, a solution of a question which has puzzled the Geologists not a little-how to account for the tropical vegetation, of which we find traces in high Northern latitudes. The planets according to this theory are formed of the crusts thrown off successively, as they cooled, from the Sun's surface. When the Sun threw off that crust which forms the planet Venus, it was of course left, a naked orb of melted matter. The Earth at once enjoyed a great increase of heat, and what are now the polar regions, basked a few centuries in the rays of a tropical sun.

We do not remember to have met with this solution before, and from our entire ignorance of the subject, will not hazard an opinion as to its merits.

It has been mentioned that on the withdrawal of the diffusive force, innumerable agglomerations would take place throughout the Universe. Our own Universe is now to be considered as one of these little assemblages of atoms.

Expanding our conceptions, we find a thousand, or a million systems, under the same ineradicable tendency to unity, forming themselves into one great cluster. The Milky Way, the home of our own system, is one of these clusters of systems. Countless myriads of these clusters make up the great ultimate sphere, the Universe. That the Universe cannot be infinite is evident from the fact, that if it were,

there could be no such thing as gravitation, the tendency of bodies being always in that direction in which there is the greatest quantity of matter. If the Universe were boundless, there could of course be no more matter in one direction, than in another.

But the human mind has a leaning to the Infinite, and "fondles the phantom of the idea.". May we not then yield to the fancy, that there is existing throughout the wildernesses of space, a limitless succession of Universes, having no part in our origin, no portion in our laws? Their material, their spirit is not ours. They exist apart and independently, each in the bosom of its proper and particular God. As a device for conveying to the mind some notion of the vast extent of our Universe, we are required to conceive of a circle, so ineffably grand, that a flash of lightning, traveling upon its circumference forever, would still forever travel in a straight line. Now think of a thousand or a million such circles!

Mr. Poe gives in passing, a definition of Comets which seems to us novel, not to say lucid. "Comets are the lightning flashes of the

Cosmical Heaven."

Attraction is gradually

But the great Reaction goes slowly on. overcoming Repulsion. Moons are precipitated upon planets, planets upon suns, suns upon nuclei, until at length, "with a thousand fold electric velocity, the majestic remnants of the tribe of stars, flash into a common embrace." The catastrophe is at hand. But what is it? Matter has returned from its abnormal to its normal state. Attraction and Repulsion have ceased. The final orb of orbs is now objectless. It instantaneouly disappears and God remains all in all. Nor pause we here. Another creation takes place, another Action and Reaction of the Divine Will; and thus forever and forever, "a novel Universe swells into existence and subsides into nothingness, at every throb of the Heart Divine."

And now this Heart Divine, what is it?

It is our own!!

To this final conclusion, are we led by this wonderful treatise. And now what shall be the verdict? We have a way of reading the preface of a book, just as the author writes it,-the last thing. We had about decided to call it a Physico Metaphysico Mathematical Rhapsody, when in reading the preface, we came upon these words. "It is only as a poem, that I wish this work to be judged after I am dead." If the work is to be judged at all after the death of Mr. Poe, we fear that his sands are nearly run. Still, we are good natured

enough to hope that he is destined to outlive this, and some of his other works, as well as a good share of his impudence and conceit. But, supposing him dead for a moment, upon what grounds can we call it a poem? He gives us a definition of poetry, himself. "Poetry is truth, and truth is poetry." This is about as true as it would be to say that all the light God ever made, is moonshine. According to this definition, we might indeed reckon this work a poem, provided that we admitted the truth of another proposition which he advances, viz: "What I here propound is true." But there's the rub. Martinus Scriblerus in his treatise Пg Bubovs, tells the world that " Poetry is a morbid secretion from the brain." Since Mr. Poe wishes to have his book considered a poem, we are bound in courtesy, to force it into that category if possible. Martinus' definition seems to afford us the only means of doing so, and we avail ourselves of it with thankfulness. That Mr. Poe has talents, we do not deny. The ingenious author of the "Fable for the Critics," puts him down as "threefifths genius." Judging of him by the book before us, we should be inclined to reckon him as three-fifths genius and six-fifths "sheer fudge." We cherish no ill will towards Mr Poe, and to prove it, we promise, the very next time he publishes a book, to take no notice of it whatever. He evidently considers himself one of the favored class who according to Coleridge, are blessed with an extra faculty,-the Metaphysical faculty. Whatever may be our opinion as to his Metaphysics, we shall not hesitate long about his Mathematics or his Logic. But the great fault with this as well as with most of his works, is that inordinate vanity and egotism which leads him to be constantly thrusting himself upon the reader, and which so contrary to the intention, has the effect of reminding us constantly that "I one Snug, a joiner am," and no lion at all.

Briggs,

SHADOWS.

In the grey beautiful twilight,
E're candles are lit in the room,
Dancing with manifold shadows,
The fire-light filleth the gloom.

In the twilight of contemplation,

When sweet tho'ts illumine the heart,

How the voices of loved ones, new sleeping,
Like shadows come and depart.

CrJus?

MINERALOGICAL REFLECTIONS. itch cock.

"Full many a gem of purest ray serene,

The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear."

I thought too that many a gem of brilliant hue is buried in the bosom of its mother earth, there to lie perhaps forever, unless exposed by the researches of the mineralogist, or the hands of the hard toiling miner. And I thought, also, as I looked at a splendid collection of minerals, how beautifully characteristic they are of the great mass of mankind.

Here we see a specimen of homogeneous structure, of itself unobtrusive and uninteresting; but in its relation to the mineral world we find it to be of great importance, in forming the base of so many useful and splendid specimens. So it is with the greater part of mankind. Take one man from the mass, and how rarely is he of himself, conspicuous and interesting. But when we consider that this person has all the essential elements of true greatness, and that plain common-sense minds form the true and only solid basis of society, then are we able to appreciate such characters.

I next saw crystals which had some of their sides and angles perfectly developed, and were able to reflect a little light from their faces. But if one should handle them without the greatest care, he was almost sure to be injured by their rough edges and angles. In the same manner must we approach, and hold intercourse with some people. They seem to be pleasant and agreeable; but if we arouse them by touching any angular point, we are apt to receive a mental wound at least, if not one in the body.

Next I saw crystals perfectly formed, and at a distance they seemed like beautiful specimens. But on a closer examination they proved to be lustreless, neither able to shed any light of their own, nor in the least reflecting borrowed light and in fine, they were extremely dull, and had no beauty except that of form. This is a very fair simile of many persons in life, who in the dim distance have indeed the appearance of men: they have the outward show of refinement and affection, but when their characters are well known, they are found