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common model is the truth. They differ as distinct narratives will always differ, while men are men; but they neither agree nor differ as copied narratives would, for the reasons already assigned." p. 164.

Nothing can afford more satisfactory evidence of the divine character of the Saviour of the world, than the 14th chapter of this work, the subject of which is "our Lord's representations of himself." Whoever believes in the genuineness and authenticity of the scriptures, can hardly, we should think, peruse it without conviction that his Redeemer was, indeed, his Lord and his God. The passages from the gospels there submitted to our view, are so clear and express in declaring the divinity of Jesus, that it is almost impossible for a candid reader to entertain a doubt of the meaning intended to be conveyed by them; and they are at the same time so numerous, that to suppose them to be forgeries or interpolations, requires a greater share of that credulity, for which sceptics in religion are often so unaccountably remarkable, than we can conceive likely to fall to the share of any rational man. It is incumbent upon those who declare them to be forged or interpolated, to shew at what time, and in what manner, such a thing was practicable. This, as well as every other part of the subject, has been very ably treated by our author; and we question whether any person, however well instructed in the truths of his religion, will rise from a fair examination of this interesting little volume, without feeling more than ever convinced, that, in embracing Christianity, he has not "followed a cunningly "devised fable," and that the hopes it has inspired and cherished will not be found fallacious. Our readers will not be displeased at our inviting their attention to the inference, which, at the end of the work, is drawn from the preceding argument. The tone of confidence in which it is expressed is amply authorised by the merit of the work, and the wellearned reputation of the author.

"We have thus seen, in every instance, that the actions, the discourses, the parables, the prophecies of our Lord, which the evangelists have recorded, either singly, or two, three, or all of them alike, (without combination and without copying,) are such as those writers could not possibly have invented, drawn, or composed, from any sources of their own. When indeed we contemplate the wonderful picture which they have all alike displayed; the mysterious combination of characters apparent in the subject of their history, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of man, and the Son of God, and perfect in both relations. There all gentleness, humility, and piety; here displaying such a dignity as never before, or since, was vested in the human form: a being despised, insulted, persecuted, suffering,

yet of unwearied and inexhaustible benevolence; dying on a cross, yet promising to be present with his disciples to the very end of time:-When, I say, we consider this wonderful personage, whom four different historians have represented to us, in histories always varied, more or less, yet always consistent; often so alike as to prove that they were studious to preserve the very words which they had heard; yet often so differing, as to satisfy the reader that the coincidence was not produced by design or combination; their narratives sometimes more contracted, sometimes more full; yet always leading to the same general and most wonderful results. When we thus consider these things, we cannot surely turn aside from the inevitable conclusion of right reason, that such a character exceeded at reach of human imagination to delineate; such a narrative, defied all stretch of human ingenuity to invent. Truth, and truth alone, could have been the prototype of the character; the foundation, substance, and support of every word and action there recorded.

"If this conclusion be not secure from all possibility of error, little cause have we to be proud of that high privilege of reason, which can thus fail us when we most require its aid; and can leave us in uncertainty, where all our highest interests urgently demand that we should see and know the truth.

"Of the perfection of this faculty in himself, it becomes not any man to boast but they who have exercised it with care, for a considerable series of years, and generally with satisfactory results, may surely be allowed to feel some confidence in its conclusions. Such confidence I confess myself to feel; and should as soon be led to doubt of my existence, as of the veracity of the evangelists, thus made clear to my understanding. But reason operates differently in different minds; and if there should be persons, to whom these arguments do not seem conclusive, may they be led by other means to that which certainly is the truth, however well or ill particular persons may chance to argue for it. We can offer only what we have, with our best hopes that what we offer may be useful. But God can enlighten every man, by the means which he knows to be best; and to him we must commit the result of all our cares and all our labours." p. 270.

We have but a very few words to add, and they relate to the execution of this treatise; which is marked by precision, by simplicity, and by a desire in the author of writing usefully rather than attractively; in short, by that good taste which we expected in the performance of a gentleman, who had so often proved himself a competent judge of what was right or wrong in the productions of others.

ART. VIII.-A Treatise on the Construction of Maps; in which the Principles of the Projection of the Sphere are demonstrated, and their various practical Relations to mathematical Geography deduced and explained; systematically arranged, and scientifically illustrated from twenty Plates of Diagrams. With an Appendix and copious Notes. By ALEXANDER JAMIESON, 8vo. pp. 202. Price 9s. Law, &c. London, 1814.

THE utility of geography, and the consequent importance of an early initiation of youth in its rudiments, is admitted by all whose general knowledge enable them to form an accurate judgment on the subject. This science may be properly divided into two distinct parts; the one, depending upon local description, historical narration, or political circumstances, may with propriety be denominated Narrative or Descriptive Geography; and the other, the basis of which rests upon fixed and invariable principles, is with equal propriety styled Mathematical Geography. Descriptive Geography alone, is that branch of the science which is generally introduced into our seminaries; and even this but in part. Local and minute descriptions are too frequently presented to the mind of youth, while the physical phænomena of the globe are entirely overlooked: thus the attention is occupied with details, while the majesty and subli mity of Nature are suffered to escape through the subtilty of our divisions, and the minuteness of our rules. Descriptions of this nature, however, when given in common language, though appropriated to the most familiar ideas, must necessarily be vague; and from this circumstance resulted the invention of Maps, not only to render the respective situations and places sensible to the eye, but also to depict the relative magnitudes and positions they occupy on the surface of the globe. But, that these may possess that accuracy which the art of navigation, the progress of military science, and various other important objects require, something more than mere graphical delineation is necessary: the aid of mathematical and astronomical principles must be called in; and, to render the use of these more familiar in their application to this purpose, constitutes the object of the present work.

The author's design is thus expressed in the preface,

"If, however, the compiler has successfully arranged and condensed the scattered researches of various authors, and united the theory of an

cient, with the practice of modern, discoveries, he has, perhaps, done all that could reasonably be expected."

Our readers must not suppose, from the author's expression, "arranged and condensed the scattered researches of various authors," that he is the first who has written a treatise on this subject: we would rather direct their attention to the word "condensed," as not only that which constitutes the most appropriate province of a writer on this subject, but that in which Mr. Jamieson has laboured with laudable zeal and proportionate success. What our author means by " uniting the theory of ancient, with the practice of modern, discoveries," we do not comprehend: as the word discovery merely implies either the act of attaining to the knowledge of something which was before unknown, or the thing discovered, it cannot, in any case, admit the application of the word "theory." The author thus explains his plan in the preface:

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"As a work of this kind must depend upon a great many relations, geographical and mathematical, the first two sections very naturally introduce the student to the third. In this section, the principles of the orthographic, the stereographic, and the globular projections of the sphere, are fully demonstrated; and the last of these is investigated in a manner entirely new, to prove its superiority and admirable fitness in the construction of maps.

"In the fourth section, theory descends to practice; and, as certain com'binations are proposed to be effected, the projections are handled in the form of problems: by this means they are reduced to much greater simplicity than the prolixity of pursuing the subject in numerous subdivisions would have allowed.

"MERCATOR'S Projection might have been blended with the former; but it was more analogous to the plan of the work, to assign a separate section to the principles and practical methods of so ingenious an invention.

"The origin and properties of the rhumb-line, with its usefulness in navigation, occupying the sixth section, are treated as concisely as the nature of the subject would admit.

"The meridional, equatorial, and horizontal, constructions of maps, in the seventh section, are singularly beautiful, and highly interesting, the subordinate parts of the problems having been enriched with valuable elueidations.

"The principles of developing a spheric surface on a plane, are investigated in the eighth section; and the application of the development of the conic surface, in the construction of maps, possesses the rare qualities of simplicity and elegance, with a nice approximation to truth.

"The ninth section is of a miscellaneous nature, unfolding numerous projections of particular maps. These constructions are presented in a popular form, and include whatever appeared of essential consequence in modern practice.

"Having treated so fully of the orthographic projection of the sphere, it seemed necessary to shew its extensive application in the construction

and use of the analemma-an instrument that will solve many of the common astronomical problems-and the tenth section has been allotted to these subjects.

"Without pretending to contribute to the advancement of geographical studies, the Appendix will probably be deemed not the least interesting portion of this volume, since the ingenious resources which it discloses are calculated to afford very pleasing and instructive exercises.

"The Notes and Illustrations with which the work concludes, will be found peculiarly useful, as the various historical and critical remarks which are blended with them, have resulted from numerous sources of information, some of which are difficult of access." p. iii.

The value of works of this kind must necessarily depend upon the numerous plates by which they are accompanied, and, without which, the greater part of their contents is altogether unintelligible. In the present instance, the diagrams are accurately drawn and neatly engraved, and, consequently, are more valuable not only as illustratives of the author's reasoning, but as copies for the pupil's exercise on a larger scale. They, however, prevent us from making any extract from this part of the work to illustrate the writer's method; we can, therefore, only recommend the work itself to the attentive perusal of such as are desirous of obtaining an acquaintance with the subject of which it treats; but we fear that many of the younger students of geography, from their want of mathematical knowledge, will not be able to derive the full benefit it is calculated to afford to those who have made a greater progress in that science.

The first two sections, which, in the preceding extract, are described as introductory to the third, consist of "Preliminary remarks on the nature of the terrestrial globe, its circles, and their uses, with the different positions of the sphere,"-" Preliminary observations on maps and charts, the natural divisions of the earth, and the objects that diversify the face of a country." The Appendix, also, contains much useful and practical information on, 1st. "Some methods of drawing large circles and ellipses; 2dly, Directions for colouring maps; 3dly, A catalogue of some of the best maps; and, 4thly, General rules and observations for judging of the accuracy of different maps, when a comparison is to be made between them, and places inserted from ove into another." The part of the Appendix which we think most deficient is the catalogue of maps, especially in such as have been published in foreign countries; and we conceive that, in the event of a second edition, Mr. Jamieson might render the list much more valuable by enlarging on

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