always place him in a division of zoology of which man would constitute the sole order, genus, and species. This classification has been adopted by two most distinguished zoologists, Ehrenburg, of Berlin, and Geoffroy St. Hilaire, of Paris. But it has not yet come to be generally received. The name of Cuvier, (whose classification is wholly dependent on the physical constitution, and wholly excludes the spiritual-treating man as a mere animal,) like the name of Linnæus in the previous age, seems to have held, even Christian naturalists spellbound. So long as he is followed in this particular, true progress in the descriptions and arrangement of the objects of natural history must be frustrated; because man must be classed in a rank far below that to which his creation and endowments would assign him; he image and likeness of God in him must be ignored by science; whilst it is evident that the right classification of man, must be vastly more essential to a sound zoology, than that of all the mere animals taken together. Man is the head of all the species of animals in virtue of his lower nature alone, which is one with theirs; but the head of the animal creation is MAN, in virtue only of his being endowed with a moral and spiritual nature, which is made in the image of God.

The due consideration of this moral and physical nature of man, might easily be made to refute all the speculation that has ever been advanced, from the analogy of the brute creation, in favour of a separate and independent origin for his several races or varieties. For the brute, from its nature and form, is, in a certain sense, attached to the soil; it is incapable of an upright position; it cannot vary or change its food; it has no power to adapt itself to new circumstances; it has no knowledge of distant countries; it is of one nature, and that is, "of the earth, earthy," destitute of reason, freedom, and morality. Hence there is a fitness that the mere animal should be, as it is, subject to laws that are merely physical; that it should be the slave of nature; and that each department of nature, distinguished in its climate and vegetable productions by peculiar adaptations, should have adapted and at least partially confined to it peculiar forms of animal life. But man is the lord of nature, not its slave; and he finds his highest development in

asserting this control. His form is upright; he is endowed with a superior nature-with reason, freedom, morality, and immortality. Hence he is subject to other than physical laws; he can protect himself from the heat of the equator, and from the cold of the polar circles; he can vary his food according to the productions of each locality; the geometrical ratio of his natural increase makes it necessary that he should spread his tribes away from their native locality; and whilst any portion of the earth's surface remains unsubdued, he feels that his work is unfinished. Hence man justly claims a wider latitude and freer range over the earth than the brute can enjoy; and refuses to be confined within the faunas and floras of science, which are transcended by many species of the animals themselves.

If now, in conclusion, we look at the first chapter of Genesis merely as a philosophical theory of the beginning of things, the result merely of a wise man's reflections, after a wide examination of the phenomena of nature and of man, it is wonderful to see how free it is from all those difficulties which modern speculation have raised. There we behold the Creator preparing the world, its dry land and seas-covering the earth with vegetation for the future nourishment of man and beast. Then he causes the water to bring forth abundantly all its living things, both great and small, every fish of every fin, and "every fowl of every wing." After this he produces the beasts and all cattle, and all creeping things. The abundant creation of vegetable and animal life, not in single pairs, but in multitudes, seems to be implied in this account; and we know not what objection can lie against such an understanding of the words, which seems to be necessary, in order that there should be food both for the herbivorous and carnivorous species. The time might have been near the autumnal equinox. In all this the wise and learned author has given a theory of the creation of plants and mere animals, which, if derived from the study of nature, is at least such as modern natural history, even with its discoveries in geology, has only illustrated-which it has in no respect improved nor essentially modified. According to our present views, vegetable abundance must have preceded the creation of the animals, in order that these should be supplied

with food; and the order of succession in the animal creation, is the most natural. To the eye of science now, it is "all very good."

When this vast and perfect preparation had been made for man, the head and glory of the creation appears in the image of his Maker. Upon the animal nature in him is superinduced a free, rational, moral, and spiritual nature, to which there is no likeness in any other creature. With these unparalleled endowments, crowned with articulate speech, he is not made subject to nature, but "all things are put under him." He is placed above the limitations and local restraints of mere animal life, in virtue of his superior nature and lordship over the earth and all its creatures. Now Moses, observing further the obvious fact, that all known individuals of mankind were endowed with the same distinguishing qualities and faculties, and were all capable of inter-procreation in a geometrical ratio of increase, would naturally infer that they all originated from a single pair, and constituted one family and one brotherhood. What so natural, simple, rational. What so free from difficulty?

Far be it from us to endorse any such view of this oldest page of written knowledge. But if it were nothing more than this, we should not hesitate to accept it as by far the most probable account that has ever been given of the beginnings of things.

ART. V.-The General Assembly.

THE General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church met, according to appointment, in the First Presbyterian Church, Columbus, Ohio, May 15, 1862, and was opened with a sermon by John C. Backus, D. D., Moderator of the last Assembly, from Hebrews xii. 28. After the organization of the house, Charles C. Beatty, D. D., was elected Moderator, and the Rev. A. A. Hogue, of Kentucky, Temporary Clerk. Dr. Leyburn, of New Orleans, having resigned his office as Stated Clerk of the Assembly, A. T. McGill, D. D., of Princeton, N. J., was elected

to fill that office, and W. E. Schenck, D. D., of Philadelphia, was chosen Permanent Clerk in the place of Dr. McGill.

Revised Book of Discipline.

R. J. Breckinridge, D. D., Acting Chairman of the Committee on the Revision of the Book of Discipline, reported that the Committee had several meetings, and had sent the book, as revised, to the several Presbyteries for their suggestions, and that a majority of the Committee had intrusted him to recommend that the subject be postponed to the next General Assembly. This recommendation was acceded to by the Assembly; and the matter was accordingly deferred. Dr. Beatty, the Moderator, was added to the Committee, in the place of the Rev. Prof. Peck, and Dr. Krebs, of New York, in the place of Rev. Dr. Thornwell. The Committee was instructed to meet on the 22d of July next, in the First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh.

Place of Next Meeting.

Peoria, Illinois; Washington, D. C.; and Newark, N. J., were placed on nomination. Dr. Tustin made an eloquent and patriotic speech in favour of Washington; but the majority of the Assembly voted for Peoria, where the next Assembly is appointed to meet.

Board of Publication.

Dr. McPheeters presented the following report on this subject, which, after protracted debate, was adopted.

66

Having carefully examined the Report of the Board, together with the Minutes of the Board and the Minutes of the Executive Committee, they recommend the approval of these Minutes as far as written, and would respectfully submit the following resolutions to the Assembly for its adoption:

1. Resolved, That this General Assembly continues to regard the Board of Publication as a most important and efficient agency of the church, in disseminating and defending divine truth, and approves of the wisdom, prudence, and energy with which the affairs of the Board have been conducted during the past year.

2. Resolved, That the Assembly is especially gratified to learn that the Board has entered with so much zeal and efficiency on the most important work of supplying the army and navy of the United States, and also prisoners of war, with suitable religious reading; and that, notwithstanding the troubles of the country, it has been enabled to employ so many colporteurs, who devote themselves to this new and exceedingly interesting field; and the Assembly, in view of the magnitude and urgency of this work, earnestly recommend the churches under its care to sustain the Board by liberal contributions to its colportage and distribution funds.

3. Resolved, That the Assembly is pleased to find that the Board is actively engaged in publishing books of suitable character for juvenile reading and Sabbath-school libraries; and that it be recommended to the Board, in view of the present exigencies of the church, to furnish a still cheaper edition of Sabbath-school books.

4. Resolved, That the Assembly renews its recommendation of the Sabbath-school Visitor to our congregations, as efficient aid in the work of Sabbath-school instruction.

a most

Rev. Dr. McPheeters said that he had, with the Committee, bestowed every possible moment to the consideration of the Annual Report; and whilst there was much discussion, and full inquiry, the Report was cordially adopted, and the operations of the Board approved. They had been particularly and favourably impressed with the valuable work accomplished for the soldiers and seamen, by the Board; and the Committee was fully satisfied with the diligence, wisdom, and faithfulness of the Board, and the Executive Committee, in the management of this important arm of the church's service.

Rev. Dr. Schenck, Secretary of the Board, said, that as the Report of the Board had been distributed, he would not deem it necessary to go into any laboured exposition of the operations of the Board for the past year.

To all the Boards, this has been a year of great trial, on account of the troubles of the country. A large portion of the country which once coöperated with us, has ceased to do so; and many parts of the church, still accessible, have been so reduced in their means, that the income of the Board has not