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and the Alps of Switzerland, the granaries of Lombardy derive their abundance from the irrigation imparted to them by the surrounding high-lands. The terraces, which connect the high-lands with the low-lands, descend from the common center in at least twelve colossal formations. The valleys which they enclose are the great natural lines of communication for the winds and waters, the flora and fauna, as well as for the people themselves, whose civilization they favor. These valleys descend by the deepest depressions into at least six large low plains, forming as many naturally disconnected districts. These six low-lands display a regular progression from those portions which are chiefly oceanic, to those which are completely removed from the sea, and are truly continental, exerting in consequence a strong influence upon the neighboring grand divisions of the earth.

Thus, in Asia, we recognize two great plateaux or high-lands, (those of Iran and Eastern Asia,) and four of a subordinate character with manifold other mountain systems, twelve great transition forms, (the terraces between the high-lands and the low-lands,) and six naturally separated low-lands, making in all four and twenty principal and peculiar natural types, which are so grouped that in their combination the characteristics of the entire world are made apparent. With this system of plastic formation, the auimated nature is closely connected, not only in its regular and dependent, but in its free and independent manifestations.

In attempting to trace these natural subdivisions of Asia on an ordinary map of that continent, the reader will experience some difficulty. To appreciate as it deserves the value of such general statements, he must consult a physical map which presents to the eye not only horizontal but vertical dimensions, and in which not only the coast of a country are given, the course of rivers and the direction of mountain chains, but in which also by means of different tints the lowlands are distinguished from the plateaux, and they from the mountain chains. It is much to be regretted that these maps are not to be found in every school and in every private library. The cost of such comprehensive atlases as the larger

works of Berghaus and Johnston need not deter the student from owning the smaller atlases which are prepared for use in Gerinany with great accuracy and beauty and at very low prices. It is desirable, we acknowledge, that in our own country such maps should be edited and published; but until they can be prepared in a truly scientific way, it is better for us still to depend upon transatlantic cartographers.

This presentation of the geography of Ritter can hardly fail to be tedious to those who are not already familiar with the subject, and unsatisfactory to those who are. The latter class of readers will support us, however, in saying that the originality of Ritter's views, the technicality of his expressions, and the complicated structure of his sentences, renders the task of translation by no means easy. Indeed, it is to these circumstances that we must attribute the fact that only one translation of the Erdkunde has been made in Europe. That was made into the Russian language, the relations of the great Slavonic empire to the continent of Asia being already so extended, and, at the same time, so progressive, that such a key to power as Ritter offered them was seized with the greatest eagerness.

We had intended in this Article to go more fully into the several parts of the Erdkunde, and to show how the author conducted his investigation in some particular country, the great peninsula of Arabia, for example; but we must defer for the present that purpose, and content ourselves with having brought forward the characteristics of the work. We cannot doubt that followers of Ritter in this country and in England will lay before the public his profound and comprehensive views, worked out, illustrated, and made intelligible to every mind. Already in Switzerland and Germany the text-books in geography are based on the principles of Ritter, and while his own words have been read by a narrow circle, his views have been taught in every school-room. They have had an influence on a multitude of scholars, and have led to the discussion both of nature and of history, in a manner before unknown, but sure to produce the most advantageous results in the culture of the mind and the promotion of true civilization.

It is fortunate that our own land, to which Ritter always referred as the future seat of human power, rapidly gaining ascendency, has become the home, at once the study and the lecture-room of one who was trained by the great geographer of Berlin, and was always referred to by him as his devoted friend. We need hardly say that we allude to Professor Guyot, once of Neufchatel and now of Princeton. Imbued with the spirit of Humboldt and Ritter, he has presented in his work on the "Earth and Man," the most important of their conclusions in respect to the structure of this world and its adaptation to mankind, together with his own profound reflections on this subject, the result of protracted and varied studies in science and in history. We well remember the high terms in which Ritter was accustomed to speak of this work, and no one is a better judge than he. Prof. Agassiz, also, in speaking of the lectures which form the basis of this volume, referred in the strongest terms to the "brilliant generalizations" of this author, supplementary to those of Humboldt and Ritter, and urged their wide diffusion.

If there are any of our readers who desire to understand the New Geography, and who are not already acquainted with the character of this unpretending volume, we assure them that in it they will find a profound exhibition of important principles, presented with clearness of style, richness and beauty of illustration, and power of argument which will amply reward the most careful study. By his accurate measurements of all the higher peaks in the mountains of the eastern portion of this continent, Prof. Guyot has made an important contribution. to the knowledge of the new world, and by his elaborate tables for meteorological and other physical calculations, he has rendered an incalculable service to all observers of natural phenomena. By his lectures in the Normal Schools and before the Teachers' Institutes of various States, to say nothing of his collegiate instruction and his other public lectures, he has awakened a widely and deeply felt interest in a department of knowledge which was almost unknown in this country before his arrival in it. But there is yet one service which we hope he will speedily render, the preparation of a series of text

books illustrated with physical maps, and adapted to different periods of instruction. The tedious study which is now called geography in our schools, would then give way to a more satisfactory and more useful contemplation of the world in which we dwell.

Even now, in the higher institutions of learning, much could be done for the diffusion of philosophical notions of the structure of the earth in its relations to man. The study of natural science in all its departments is at once interesting and important; not less valuable and instructive is the history of different epochs and countries; but to show the relation between the world and its inhabitants, between the powers of nature and of mind, between the structure of a continent and the races or nations which possess it, is to illustrate on the grandest scale the designs of the Creator in planning this complex globe to be the home, the school, and the judgmenthall of man.

ARTICLE II. THE POWER OF CONTRARY CHOICE.

THE question whether the soul has the "power of contrary choice" is one of the utmost importance in its bearings upon theology, and all moral science. It is high time that the subject was thoroughly understood. The orthodox faith has lost much by its dullness of apprehension and its incompleteness here, and entirely failed of that "vantage ground" which it would have held but for its unwillingness to concede what is intuitionally true at this point, and what the common sense of men concedes in all the relations of life. Happy the day, for the cause of truth generally, and for the power and spread of the gospel, when our metaphysics on this and other subjects shall agree with the acknowledged principles of common sense, and be but the philosophic and comprehensive statement of them! Ask any man of a thousand you may meet, whether he thinks he could have done right yesterday when he did wrong, and he will say "Yes." It is the sentiment of common life, and of humanity, for all time, everywhere. Not whether he acted freely and with consent of will in doing wrong. That of course. But whether situated as he then was, he could have refrained from the wrong and done the right, and he will still say "Yes," if his conscience is tender, and bad theology does not come in his way. And he will sustain his position by asking further, "If I could not, how then was I responsible for my sin? If it was 'inevitable,' situated as I was, how am I answerable for it? If the temptations to it took away my power to the contrary, I feel absolved for what I could not help ;" and the conscience of mankind will go with him in this, philosophize about it as we

may.

It is not to be expected that a great mind of any given age should see all sides of all subjects, for all time. The error of the colossal "Treatise on the Will," is just at the point un

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