THE DISCOVERY OF TILE VITAL PRINCIPLE.

Tuts volume puz4ed us. At first we fancied it a joke, whose points were not very obvious to any save the author : but a recollec- tion of the expense of it thick octavo banished the idea, and in- duced us to set it down as the product of a philosophical halluci- nation. Every symptom, in fitet, points to a case of delusion or monomania. There is the series of propositions leading to a logi- cal conclusion, if the premises had happened to be true and the relation coherent ; there is the firm conviction of the existence of things disbelieved by all the rest of the world ; and there is a labour without end, under which any but an enthusiast would have sunk down wearied.

The object of the work is to unfold the first creation of things, to describe their progress, and to predict their termination. Ac- cording to our author, this world (and it is to be concluded every other) has passed through three stages,—which he calls the oval, the fmtal, and the locomotive life ; the oval or egg stage consisting of solid matter, the fcetal of " fluid," the locomotive of atTiform. The types of these three conditions in the inorganic, vegetable, and animal life, arc thus presented by the author.

Tun THREE ANALOGOUS STAGES.

It is not for us to pursue this expounder of' the universe through his wide and varied wanderings. Let the beginning and the end suffice. Ile has discovered the essential element of matter, before which NEWTON, whilst predicating its existence, humbly confessed that his philosophy was baffled : and this primal element is the diamond. How the organic life and forms of the sun and planets were produced, is described in detail, and backed by diagrams : but we shall merely say that their origin "commenced with the first spark of electricity, elicited by friction in the centre of the ovum' of diamond. The origin and qualities of animal fletal life are thus described- " The human heart is the only perfect machine of the ftetal : from this

machine all others are constructed. From the primitive egg of pure unadul-

terated diamond has been roduced that donna° most refitted, and perfect living mechanic, the little si kworm. From this little worm—all heart, all love, all feeling—has been produced the immense and wonderful mtiverse, with all its continuous chain or links of animated structure. From its own body has this little worm spun out the hoe which first formed the clumpy of heaven, the silken bed on Which its ashes would hereafter repose. It was this perfect little insect which .produced from its tears the first pure crystal drop of water :t to its sympathy and love, man is himself indebted for an existence. It was this little worm which spun the threads forming the first matting and downy texture of his bed. From the mixture of its ashes has been wrought that entire web • The Wien rubber is the- substanee which most nearly approaches to that of the Munoz heart. .'fbis has lately been discovered to be tu some degree analogous to silk,

'MOs Ow:400mM in thu human heart. . lit Life, or oval. or lmiorgm ,

I Solid, (as Ice.)

Vegetable. Seed. Animal, Ovum,

Embryo, or Seed netus, (which is alst sprouting in the termed embryo dim-

ground. ring the first Period of gestation.) 2d Life, or Fluid, (as Water.) 3d Life, Anatol'', (as or locomotive. Steam.) Plant aboveground.

Animal born. or continuous wrapper which encloses and protects-every organ of his wonderful machine."

It is gratifying to perceive, if we have read him rightly, that the wide research and speculations of our author have Induced no heretical notions. Ile holds that the world will be destroyed by fire ; but maintains that the cupidity of man, in digging for coals and other minerals both useful and precious, will precipitate the catastrophe, by preparing the interior of the globe for premature "combustion.' Whether this fact will remove the following Dtrdalian scheme front the charge of a presumptuous interference with Providence, must be left to the heads of the Church.

"There can be no doubt but that the labour of aeronauts will succeed, if per- severed in; for

' Man's heart et' Almighty to the future sets, By secret and inviolable springs.'

"The human mind, by thug time, will comprehend, from the perusal of the preceding pages, how a remnant of the virtuous portion of mankind may be saved alive in the last day by the very powerful invention of balloons. Ere the awful termination of the present abode of man, let us hope we may see the sur- rounding atmosphere spotted and illumined by moving veasels of every descrip- tion, as we now behold them on the waters. Here, then, is excitement for gelling and talent to unite in every possible way. Not a moment should be lost ut devising the means of preservation from the hnpending danger."

"Paul, Paul! much learning bath made thee mad."