identical with those presented to us in nature. The number of such substances thus produced, may now exceed twenty; including urea, kreatinine, the oxalic, benzoic, formie, lactic, succinic acids, &c., but not including any organized tissue, or the substances, albumen, fibrin, gelatine, &c., out of which such tissues are formed. Further, it must be stated that the products thus artificially obtained, are not derived from the simple inorganic elements, as in the original processes of nature, but formed by change and new combination, from other organic compounds-a distinction obviously of much importance. We are here, indeed, approaching to the margin of that gulf which separates physical facts from the proper phenomena of life; and it is possible that the intervention of vitality as an element af action, may arrest all ulterior progress of Chemistry in this direction; though, seeing what physical science has effected in these latter days, it would be rash to draw the line of demarkation too closely or definitely around. The wonders of sidereal astronomy, of electricity in its various forms, of light and the solar spectrum as now disclosed to us, may well suggest caution as to any such inferences. Still the line of limitation must somewhere exist; and admitting that Chemistry may succeed in producing the materials of organized tissues, we have reason to believe that here its power will stop; their actual formation being due to the intervention of that higher process, the operations of which we see and designate by name, but may never hope to reach or imitate by human art. The outline we have given of Organic Chemistry can afford but a slight idea of the magnitude and variety of these researches. Scarcely have we even named the great class of vegetable alkaloids obtained by modern analysis; many of them most singular in their action, medicinally or as poisons, on the animal economy. Of the acids, nearly 300 in number, which are catalogued and described in this department of chemistry, we have spoken almost as cursorily. In all these various discoveries the name of Liebig, as we have seen, comes out more prominently to view than any other; and if there were license for comparison in things so different, we should be tempted to name him the Rubens of the chemical school. His admirable execution in analysis is scarcely more remarkable than the power he possesses of grouping together his results boldly and skilfully, and enforcing conclusions which have escaped more timid reasoners. Yet while thus successful in reaching great truths-felicissimè audax— we are bound to admit a certain impetuosity, verging on rashness, which burries him on to inferences, not tenable under more exact knowledge-a fact especially to be noted in his applications of chemistry to animal physiology. Though hasty or premature, however, in some of his conclusions, none will refuse to admit the magnitude and success of his labors. To these he has lately added by a new work on 'The Chemistry of Food,' comprising much that is curious in present result-much also suggestive of further inquiry. What he has attempted and accomplished for the chemistry of agriculture is well known to the world. In every part of this picture of modern Chemistry it will be seen how wonderfully the objects cohere together; and amidst the immense multiplication of facts, and even of new classes of phenomena, how strikingly all converge around the law of definite proportions in combination-the keystone of Chemistry, and the true index to all the actions involved in it. To complete our survey we have still one great subject before us; to which, though prior in date to others already discussed, we have hitherto only slightly alluded. We mean the connexion of chemical laws and actions with those of electricity and light--a theme far too vast for any space we can afford to it, but too important to be passed over wholly without notice. The decomposition of water by voltaic. electricity, with disengagement of oxygen and hydrogen at the opposite poles, was the first great fact which associated chemical and electrical phenomena. Further experiments extended this law of decomposition to other compound bodies, acids, alkaline and metallic salts, placed in solution in the electric circuit-certain of their component parts uniformly appearing at the positive pole of the battery, others at the negative. The admirable researches of Davy in 1806-7, while confirming these results, enlarged their scope by showing that such chemical decompositions might be effected when the poles of the electric circuit were plunged into separate vessels, connected only by moistened amianthus-certain of the decomposed parts not merely showing themselves, as if transferred by the electric current from one vessel to another, but even appearing to pass freely, under this polarized condition, through an intermediate vessel, containing and its entire solution, if attained, will other chemical agents, with which, in ordinary probably be from the same source for both. circumstances, they would instantly combine. The doctrine of Volta, deriving the pheIn sequel to these beautiful experiments, and nomena of the pile from the contact beby the same agency, Davy succeeded in obtain-tween different metals, regarded the chemiing the metallic bases of the alkalies and earths cal actions in the electric current as sec-a discovery more imposing or first aspect, ondary and subordinate effects. Wollaston, and effecting great change in every part of more justly appreciating them, found in chemistry, yet of less real import than that these very actions the motive power develgreat principle of electro-chemical action oping all electricity. The opinions of Davy just adverted to, of which it formed a par- on the subject were less determinate; but ticular result. the more recent labors of Faraday, while adding to our knowledge by new discoveries, have given firmer basis to the chemical theory of Wollaston, by proving that no chemical action or change can occur without development of electricity; and conversely, that the electric element is never put into activity without some evidence of chemical change. This, however, being ascertained, how much yet remains to be solved as to the mysterious relation before us! We may well describe it in the phrase of an eminent philosopher, l'abime des incertitudes est le théâtre des découvertes.' It abounds in difficulties-it is rich in the promise of great results. The views as to the nature and conditions of this action were, however, imperfect and faulty, until the genius of Faraday-successfully exercised in every part of science -determined certain laws, which, though they may be modified and extended hereafter, will probably form the basis of our future knowledge on the subject. Earlier opinion had supposed a peculiar energy of the poles, or extremities of the wires, in an electric circuit, determining the chemical actions which manifest themselves at these points. Applying to them the name of electrodes, Faraday regards the poles as simply opening a way or passage to the electric current; and draws attention more explicitly to the electrolite, as he terms any chemical compound interposed between them, and thus submitted to the influence of the current. This electrolite, to admit of decomposition, must be so far in a fluid state as to allow mobility of particles, and must be continuous between the polesconditions which, in conjunction with other phenomena, justify and illustrate the theory now adopted, that there is in these cases no actual transference of material particles by the electric current, but a series of successive decompositions and recompositions in the line of particles between the poles, evolving the component parts of the electrolite only where the current ceases to flow through it. This may seem, to a mind untutored in such subjects, a strange complexity of action. But it will not so appear to those accustomed to regard the atomical relations of matter, as they must necessarily exist, to fulfil the various conditions of chemical change which are now made known to us. No further details are needful to show the importance of these electro-chemical actions, and the close connexion they establish between two great elements of power or force in the material world. The theory of this relation has been, and even yet is, a quæstio vexata among philosophers. It pertains to Electricity, equally as to Chemistry; We might speak nearly in the same terms of the connexion between chemical phenomena and those of light. Science has only recently approached this subject; but with a success which may well justify the ardor of present pursuit: and Photography, under whatever name or manner of use, has already taken its place as a separate branch of human knowledge, and an admirable acquisition to the arts. The whole depends on the chemical changes produced by light; and it is worthy of note that the substances most sensitive to this action, are compounds of iodine, bromine, and chlorine-three elements peculiarly belonging to modern chemistry-the combinations of which with each other, and with silver, have been so exquisitely refined, that surfaces are now obtained nearly 100 times more sensitive to light than that which Daguerre originally employed. Considered simply as an art, it is certain that photography has not reached its limit of perfection, which may possibly yet be made to include the effects of colouring by solar light. Viewed as a science, it opens still wider space to research. The beautiful experiments of Herschel in 18-10, followed by those of Becquerel, Draper, &c., disclose connexion between chemical action and the different parts of the spectrum, which render still more marvellous the physical properties of the solar beam that splendid problem of the natu- even the solid form by compression and ral world, including within itself, or evolv- cold,-the numerous new metals discovered, ing by its presence, all the great elements the relations of volume in hydrated salts of material action and power; and through to the constituent water, &c. Enough, this very complexity of its nature promis- however, has been given to justify our asing the discovery of relations more profound sertion of the wonderful progress of this than any yet compassed by philosophy. science; and our anticipation of future reThe principle of polarity is likely to be a sults hardly less remarkable than those now main object and guide in the inquiries thus attained. We have been careful to indidirected to the connexion of elementary cate, as the subjects came before us, the forces; and the summary we have given of probable paths of future discovery; each modern chemistry will show in how many giving access to new truths, yet all conways the atomical actions of matter depend verging towards common principles and on this common principle of power, which powers. If there be less of epic character operates so largely in the other great phe- here than in Astronomy, yet does the scinomena of the universe. ence of Chemistry form a noble didactie This summary we must now bring to a poem-admirable and harmonious in all its close; though in so doing, we omit many parts-and carrying us forwards, through a other discoveries which have given lustre to long series of wonderful phenomena, to the period under review. Such are the sin- those great and eternal laws which express gular phenomena of catalysis, the reduc- the Providence and the wisdom governing tion of the various gases to the liquid, or the world. From the Metropolitan. EVANGELINE. Evangeline; a Tale of Acadie. By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. With an introduction, Historical and Explanatory. London: KENT and RICHARDS, Paternoster Row. It has generally been charged against American poetry,--indeed, against American literature in general,-that it is not sufficiently true to itself,-that it does but copy feebly the hackneyed sentiments, and worn-out emotions of the East. That whereas it might sing the triumphs of democracy, and the unbounded hopes offered to man by his new home in the far West, it contents itself with repeating the feelings engendered in societies with which it has little in common. On behalf of the Americans, much, however, has been, and rightly, urged. The gods now do not permit men to be poetical till the material comforts of life have been first obtained. Man must first be comfortable, before he can emerge into the region of the beautiful and sublime. He is still heroic, but not till after dinner. This materialism exists not in England alone. The contagion is at work in the old world, as well as in the new. From this common decline and fall, to which humanity has been subjected, not even the poet is exempt. "In the old days of awe and keen-eyed wonder, The poet's song with blood-warm truth was rife.” But alas, we write in tears,-a change has come o'er the spirit of the dream, "But now the poet is an empty rhymer, Who lies, with idle elbow, on the grass; To all men's prides and fancies as they pass." Yet, here and there, we have had Voices from the West borne over the Atlantic, that have spoken the universal language of the poet, and that have wakened up,-as all genuine utterances do,---a response, a fellowship of feeling and desire. The name of Longfellow has long been honorably known to English readers. As a poet of progress and hope, he has written much in a manner not unbefitting his great argument." He has lately, however, come before the world with a still more adventurous song." In Evangeline" a most difficult metre is mastered, with complete success,--a simple tale is overhung with the choicest flowers poetry can supply. It is one of those rare poems that appear perfect in every part,-that the reader peruses with increasing delight. But we will leave our readers to judge for themselves. It appears from the Introduction prefixed to this edition, that a small French colony was seated at the village of Grand Pré, on the shores of the Gaspereau, in Nova Scotia. In 1713 the sovereignty of this colony was transferred to England, but the people were only induced to take the oath of allegiance to the English crown, with the express qualification, that they should not be called to bear arms in defence of the province. Consequently, in the subsequent struggles, they were known as the neutral French. When the war of the Succession was ended in that quarter, it was charged against these people that they had furnished the French and Indians with intelligence, quarters, provisions, and assistance. In consequence of this, the Lieut.-Governor of Nova Scotia, with his council, agreed to drive them away from their homes, and to confiscate their goods. Fearing that they would go to recruit the French armies in Canada, the Governor ordered them to be dispersed amongst the British colonies, where "they would not unite in any offensive measures." Such was the outline of the cruelty these poor Acadians suffered. But we must make a few extracts from the poem. The following is a description of the village : "In the Acadian land, on the shores of the Basin of Minas, Mingled their sound with the whir of the wheels and the songs of the maidens. Paused in their play to kiss the hand he extended to bless them. Then came the laborers home from the field, and serenely the sun sank Dwelt in the love of God and of man. Alike were they free from * This edition, because another has just been published, without the Introduction, the omission of which makes "Evangeline" difficult to be understood. VOL. XV. No. I. 7 But their dwellings were open as day and the hearts of the owners; pp. 5-8. Not far from this village dwelt Benedict Bellefontaine, the wealthiest farmer of Grand-Pré; with him- "Gentle Evangeline lived, his child, and the pride of the village. Stalworth and stately in form was the man of seventy winters; Hearty and hale was he, an oak that is covered with snow-flakes; White as the snow were his locks, and his cheeks as brown as the oak-leaves. Fair was she to behold, that maiden of seventeen summers. Black were her eyes as the berry that grows on the thorn by the way-side, Down the long street she passed, with her chaplet of beads and her missal, Shone on her face and encircled her form, when, after confession, pp. 8-10. Many a suitor had this fair Evangeline, but the only one she loved in return was,— "Gabriel Lajeunesse, the son of Basil the Blacksmith, Who was a mighty man in the village, and honored of all men ; Grew up together as brother and sister; and Father Felician, Priest and pedagogue both in the village, had taught them their letters Swiftly they hurried away to the forge of Basil the blacksmith. Nailing the shoe in its place: while near him the tire of the cart-wheel Oft on autumnal eves, when without in the gathering darkness pp. 13-15. |