STEPHEN'S HISTORY OF ENGLISH THOUGHT IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.*-The history of opinions is a branch of literature which has thus far flourished far less among the English than among the Germans. A few works, like that of Sir James Mackintosh upon the British Ethical Philosophy, and similar works by Dugald Stewart and by Whewell, are notable exceptions to the general sterility of our literature in this department. On the Deists, the main subject of the volumes before us, we have the laborious and trustworthy treatise of Leland. Lechler has written in German an excellent book on the same subject. Rev. John Hunt, in his History of English Thought, traverses the same field. Mr. Stephen's discussion is characterized by ample learning, and by frequent examples of acute criticism. It is entitled to no mean rank as a contribution to religious philosophy from the author's point of view. His point of view, however, we regret to say, is not that of sympathy with the peculiar truths and the supernatural authority of the Christian religion.

MARTINEAU ON MODERN MATERIALISM.t-This little volume comprises, first, the author's Reply to Tyndall's criticism of his lecture upon "Religion as affected by Modern Materialism;" and, secondly, another article from the Contemporary Review upon the same general theme. Mr. Martineau treats his distinguished opponent courteously and fairly, but subjects his utterances respecting religion to a searching and rather destructive criticism. These essays are quite valuable, and, along with other recent publications by the same writer, constitute an effective answer to the assertions and arguments of those who have sought of late to revive, under the name of "science," the old dogmas of materialism.

PHILOSOPHICAL.

PRESIDENT McCоsн, under the title of THE DEVELOPMENT HYPOTHESIS: IS IT SUFFICIENT ? publishes four papers, three of which have been previously given to the public. The first is enti

* History of English Thought in the Eighteenth Century. By LESLIE STEPHEN In two vols. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 1876.

+ Modern Materialism; its attitude towards Theology. By JAMES MARTINEAU, LL.D. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 1876.

The Development Hypothesis: Is it sufficient? By JAMES MCCOSH, D.D., LL.D., President of Princeton College. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 1876

tled "Arguments for and against the Development hypothesis;" the second, "Is the Development hypothesis sufficient ?" the third, "Geology and Scripture;" the fourth, "View of our World given by combined Science and Religion." The four make a pamphlet volume of 104 pages, which is very readable and contains many suggestions and arguments in the author's well-known style of learning. The author has not slighted his reading in preparing for his work. The force and effect of his reasonings would have been greater, as it seems to us, had he adopted a somewhat more quiet style of treatment and a less ambitious diction. But he was writing for a popular audience, rather than for learned critics, and his work will be read by uncritical readers, and he doubtless designedly adapted his style to the demands and tastes of the majority of his hearers and readers. We recommend the work as one of great value, which is as yet almost unknown to American readers.

THE anonymous author of ULTIMATE GENERALIZATION* is a thinker trained in the school of Herbert Spencer, who while he agrees with his master in holding that the Philosophy of Science can only be consummated by attaining some ultimate generalization in the domain of abstracta, differs from Spencer in respect to the abstraction which should crown the edifice. The pamphlet is more than curious, it is instructive and suggestive to those who can understand and interpret it.

PROFESSOR STANLEY JEVONS' LOGIC PRIMER is characterized by the characteristic features of his familiar method of treating abstract topics and is perhaps as thoroughly successful as a Primer of Logic could possibly be made. We cannot say that we esteem such a book very useful except for the purposes of reviewing knowledge which has been gained from a more extended treatise. If a primer means an introductory treatise it must necessarily be a failure whenever the subject is necessarily so abstract as Logic is. The advanced student will find the treatise convenient and serviceable.

*The Ultimate Generalization: An effort in the Philosophy of Science. New York: Charles P. Somerby, 139 Eighth street. 1876. pp. 56.

Science Primers. Logic. By W. STANLEY JEVONS, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., Professor of Political Economy in University College, London. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1876.

MISCELLANEOUS.

ALPHABET IN FINANCE.*-This addition to "Putnam's Popular Manuals" is very timely. The author is or was editor of the Brooklyn Times, and the directness and raciness of this little book spring no doubt from his experience as a journalist. He calls his book "An Alphabet," and he begins with the A. B. C. of his subject; but the reader is pretty sure to follow him to the X. Y. Z.

of his result.

He treats of the "origin of money" and the reasons for the choice of gold to serve as the medium of exchange. An important chapter is on what is meant by a "standard unit." He shows how and why an inferior currency always drives out a superior one. He discusses the subject of a double standard for measuring values; is money a creation of government; how much gold a country needs, and how the quantity of gold in a country is regulated. He explains the credit system, and considers the subject of bank notes and their convertibility, and how the quantity in circulation is regulated; who should issue paper money; legaltenders and inflation; fractional currency, foreign exchange, and banking; what is a specie basis, and the balance of trade. All these are live questions, and are treated by a live man in a live We have hardly seen a book so well adapted to instruct novices in the questions of the day about finance and the currency. It is not written in a scientific manner, but, generally avoiding abstruse discussion and technical terms, the author expresses himself in plain and familiar language so that any one can understand him. He states that the book purposely deals chiefly with principles and makes slight use of illustration, but we think when he does use illustrations they are very pertinent and furnish a strong support to his arguments.

manner.

The part of the book which appears to us the ablest and adapted to do the most good is that in which, after explaining what is meant by the "credit system," he treats of "pure credit money,” "the closed circle," "the three-sixty-five bond scheme," and "the bond scheme at its best."

* An Alphabet in Finance. A simple statement of permanent principles and their application to questions of the day. By GRAHAM MCADAM. With introduction by R. R. Bowker. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 182 Fifth avenue. 1876. 12mo.

In the chapter on "pure credit money," he thus pays his respects to Mr. Peter Cooper:

"In its simplest form the theory starts with the proposition that money is the 'creation of the government,' and hence evolves the bold dogma, that the government can make a 'dollar' out of a bit of tin, or a bit of iron, or a bit of paper, just as it can out of a bit of gold—simply by putting upon it the stamp of supreme authority. We have already considered this delusion. . .

But certain of the paper philosophers have put the notion in a subtler form: In the beginning was barter; then came gold as a medium; and then came 'credit.' The higher the civilization, the less the proportion of coin used and the greater the proportion of 'credit' paper. Hence, in a supremely civilized state, coin will disappear altogether, and paper be the sole currency. . . . It is as if one should say to his grocer, 'My friend, when I moved into this neighborhood, I had to pay you cash down for every pound of butter and peck of potatoes I bought of you. But you soon came to know me and were willing occasionally to give me 'tick.' At the present stage of our intercourse, you have acquired entire confidence in my honesty and the extent of my resources, and are willing to sell me all I want on credit. Suppose now, in the interests of a higher civilization, we carry out this process of evolution and abolish the bothersome system of periodical settlements. Let us make the thing credit all the way through.'

We give a part of his reply to Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, on the "closed circle."

"This is the theory. A buys a hundred dollars' worth of goods from B; B buys a hundred dollars' worth of goods from C, and C 'closes the circle' by buying a hundred dollars' worth of goods from A. The entire indebtedness of the three can be discharged by circulating a hundred dollars from any point all around the circle. But the work might have been as well done with a button or a bit of leather, or, better still, by a scrap of paper with 'one hundred dollars' inscribed thereon. Now let the government issue these notes for its debts, let them pass from hand to hand in the work of exchanging goods, and let the circle be closed by their return to the government for taxes and custom duties.

"This to some looks very fine; but suppose we examine it. 'A buys a hundred dollars' worth of goods from B.' Why a hundred dollars' worth? How a hundred dollars' worth? Of course this means that A buys goods which are equal in value to a hundred of those bits of gold we call 'dollars.' So again we strike gold performing its great office of a measure of value. This measurement of value cannot be made with a button, nor a bit of leather, nor a scrap of paper having no value in itself, and no definite value as a claim to anything else. 'How can you say,' exclaims the paper-money man, that these proposed notes have no definite value! The government puts its stamp upon a piece of paper for One Dollar. There you have your measure of value. A hundred dollars' worth of goods would be measured in value by a hundred of these dollar notes.' But if the government puts its stamp upon a bit of paper, 'one pound,' will the paper measure the weight of a quantity of sugar? Or, if it stamps a bit of leather 'one-quart,▸ can you find out with that how much water there is in the cistern? To measure weight you must have weight-not something which 'represents' weight, or is:

'based' on weight, or is 'good for' weight, or is redeemable even in weight. To measure length you must have length; to measure volume you must have volume; to measure value you must have value."

But we cannot continue the argument, for our extracts would be too long. We have perhaps sufficiently showed the manner in which the author enlivens the discussions of a subject which is sometimes thought dry and abstruse.

The book closes with three chapters on the subject of resumption, in which various modes are discussed and the preference given to a funding of the greenbacks.

TWENTY POEMS BY ROBERT WEEKS.*-Some years ago we had occasion to commend a small volume which contained the early poems of Mr. Robert K. Weeks. We have not forgotten the impression which was then made upon us of the delicacy of his taste, and the genuineness of his poetical insight. In that volume there was such promise of future excellence, that we opened this new collection of poems with eagerness, and find our anticipations fulfilled.

Perhaps we cannot better convey an idea of what Mr. Weeks is capable of than by transferring to our pages one of the shorter of his "miscellaneous poems."

Twenty Poems.

12mo, pp. 167.

A CLIMBER,

To climb and climb for hours and hours,

O'er rocks and ice and snow,

To see at last the flower of flowers

Long sought, unseen till now.

Bruised, bleeding, breathless to attain
At last the final ledge,

Lean over, look and see it plain,

Just under the rough edge

Of that ice-worn, frost-splintered rock,
In that keen upper air,
Where never shepherd seeks his flock,
A lovely wonder there;

To gaze at it, and love it more
And more, the more 'tis seen,-
Star-like, but blood-red at the core,
With cool green leaves serene ;

By R. K. WEEKS New York: Henry Holt & Co. 1876.