sponded to by a predetermined signal worked by the hand in one-seventh of a second.

The distance travelled

by the nervous impulses was very nearly the same in all the experiments made; and, therefore, the difference of time noted in the transmission of a sensation such as touch, hearing or sight, must be explained by the greater or less rapidity of the act of recognition. The entire time taken up is occupied in the transmission of a sensation to the brain, its recognition, the willing of the signal agreed upon, the transmission of the order to the muscles of the hand and the movement of those muscles. It was found generally that less time was required for recognizing a touch than a sound, and less time was taken up to hear than to see. But it was a matter not determined as to what part of the fraction of the second was taken up in the actual act of recognition. Professor Donders has been successful in replying to this question: to do so he employed several forms of apparatus, involving entirely different methods, yet all yielding the same results. By one of these, far too complex for unillustrated description, he found that the double act of recognizing a sound and willing the response required seventy-five thousandths of a second. Of this time forty thousandths of a second were required for simple recognition and thirty-five thousandths for volition. He also found that one twenty-fifth of a second was required to judge which was the first of two irritants acting on the same sense. A slightly longer time was required to judge the priority of signals acting on different senses, as a sound and a light. It also took longer to recognize a letter of the alphabet by seeing its form than by hearing its sound.

But all this was in a man in middle

age. Young people think slightly quicker; but the difference is not very perceptible. In all the experiIn all the experi

ments the time required for a simple thought was never less than the fortieth of a second. Or, to put it in another way, the mind cannot perform more than two thousand four hundred simple acts per minute; and in most persons in middle age they do not exceed the rate of fifteen hundred per minute.

From these experiments we may readily see that popular ideas as to the rapidity of thought are somewhat exaggerated; and we also see that the idea so often stated that the drowning man sees all the events of his life pass before him in the short space of time occupied in suffocation, is also an easily-explained over-statement of the facts. The passage of a few of the most notable and impressive incidents of a man's life before the mind, at such a time and in such circumstances, might easily and pardonably be interpreted into all the events of his life.' There is no doubt, from very general testimony, that a great multitude of the thoughts and emotions of a long life do pass through the memory at such a time; but that the circumstances of a long life could surge through the mind during the time occupied in asphyxiation, is physically impossible. Even if at such a time the speed of the mind's action be abnormally great, raise it to two thousand five hundred simple cognitions per minute, that would be one hundred and fifty thousand per hour. If a mau were an hour in drowning instead of a few minutes, and the whole time were occupied with a mental review of his life, and no thought taken as to how he might save himself or be saved, he would, if forty years old, have time to give ten simple thoughts to each day he had lived. But remembering that memory would not range over the whole of these days, the number of mental acts would be increased slightly. Of course, the relative rapidity of mental acts is very great; but we are readily led astray

in relation to the actual fleetness of the mind's action.

The new metal, gallium, has a very remarkable property. It was found, as the result of deliberate conviction, that it would be discovered in a certain substance on account of certain spectroscopic characteristics it displayed. And by spectroscopic research of a peculiar kind, it has been fully discovered and added to the list of known metals. It has the general appearance of lead; but is not so blue; nor is it quite so soft, but may be readily cut with a knife. It tarnishes very little. It has a little more than half the specific gravity of lead. But its peculiar property is that it liquefies completely at eightysix degrees Fahrenheit. That is, below a temperature frequently possessed by the hand, and when once melted at this temperature it may be cooled down to the freezing point of water without solidifying, and may be kept in this state for months. Indeed, in the original communication of its discovery, it was called a liquid metal like mercury. But if a fragment of solid gallium be made to touch the liquid metal it at once solidifies.

themselves to a powerful telescope. These are to be seen over the luminous surface of the sun. They were called, from their form when first seen, the willow leaves, or willow leaf pattern on the sun's photosphere. The very fine solar photographs taken by Dr. Janssen at Meudon show that these granules have a tendency to arrange themselves into a spiral form, accompanied by more or less loss of distinctness of outline of the individual granules; an appearance which seems to point to great cyclonic disturbance in that part of the solar atmosphere in which they are found. It is interesting to note that a leading English astronomer had described a similar phenomenon as early as 1866.

Professor Marsh describes, amongst the rich fossil treasures found in the cretaceous deposits of Colorado, an immense Dinosaur. Its thigh-bone was seven feet long, so that if it had proportions generally like those of a crocodile it must have been from eighty to one hundred feet long. He also found another species, with a thigh-bone of eight feet in length. It seems difficult to realize such enormous dimensions as appertaining to an animal organism; but they appear to represent the climax of a series of forms whose chief development was in the direction of vast proportions; which doubtless, for a time at least, was advantageous to the organism, and adapted them to their surroundings.

The Life of the Rev. Samuel D. Waddy, D.D. By his Youngest Daughter. Pub lished for the Authoress at the Wesleyan Conference Office. 1878.--On the distinctive features of Dr. Waddy's stronglymarked and noble character it were superfluous to dwell here. A year ago we attempted to present in outline the intel

lectual and spiritual contour of that very notable man, and to make some faint acknowledgment of his great services to Methodism. Among the notables of Methodism very few will be so accurately known by posterity as Dr. Waddy, owing mainly to the promptitude, carefulness, ability and fidelity with which his children

have collected and published his sermons and given to the world a clear, simple, straightforward narrative of his life, with some of his brilliant and weighty sayings. In truth, the great merit of this biography consists in its simplicity and faithfulness, and the utter absence of exaggeration. Here no figure is overdrawn, no fact overcoloured. It is a plain, unvarnished' record. It opens charmingly with a picture of the rural birth-place and burial-place of Dr. Waddy's grandfather; it then draws portraits of his father and mother, wherein, as those of us who had the privilege of knowing them well can testify, they are not at all flattered. They were, at least, all that is here represented; and a few brightening touches might have truthfully been added. The like moderation is observed in the account of young Samuel Waddy's hardships and humiliations as an appren tice. The narrative of his conversion and of the first years of his ministry reads refreshingly, like the Life of some Early Methodist Preacher. Samuel D. Waddy began in the right spirit. He had throughout the heart of a Methodist Preacher ; and all his massive, towering excellencies rested on a strong basis of sincerity, honesty and earnestness. It is this guilelessness, genuineness, conscientiousness, thoroughness, which makes his Memoirs as edifying as they are entertaining, and especially worthy of the study of our younger Ministers. And the picture of his old age is, in our view, just as winning and impressive. Mr. Whiteside's description of the closing years of his ministry is very charming, is, in fact, admirably done. The chapter written by his eldest son, entitled, 'General View of the Principles of Dr. Waddy, and of the Influence upon him of the Controversies of his earlier Ministry,' is a valuable contribution to the Methodist history of the period, written with masterly vigour and lucidity, as well as discrimination, fairness and discretion. The other passages in which the traces of Mr. Waddy's facile, forceful pen are at once perceived solidly enrich the book.

In short, the volume is extremely interesting, telling us just what we want to know, bringing up the man before those who knew him with wonderful reality and life-likeness, and giving those who did not know him as fair and full a conception as is now attainable. In one point, truly, no adequate idea can be conveyed to strangers: the coruscations of his humour, as of the aurora borealis streaming to the zenith with electric crackle.

able age. The Introduction by Dr. Williams is characteristically judicious, and adds no little to the value of the book.

The Evil and the Remedy; or, The Sin and Folly of Intemperance, and the Wisdom and Excellence of Total Abstinence. By the Rev. W. Moister. London: Pub lished for the Author at the Wesleyan Conference Office.-Mr. Moister's book aims at being a manual of the Total Abstinence Question, and in an interesting, readable way, deals with almost every topic, and handles almost every argument, relating to the subject. Amidst the various forms of the evil,' he wisely notices the practice of holding friendly society and club meetings at public-houses. He says 'some'--he might have said many '-benefit societies and trade clubs hold their meetings at such places. The custom of paying wages at public-houses is fruitful of evil, and we should have been glad if more stress had been laid on the mischief that frequently results from it.

Under the heading Adulteration, some startling information is conveyed about the composition of spirits, wines and ales. Consumers of gin and brandy who do not test the acidity of their liquor may unwit tingly be swallowing sulphuric acid. Beerdrinkers, after reading Mr. Moister's revela tions, will probably be careful to ascertain what water is used in the manufacture of their beverage. Some improvement is likely to result from the prosecution of fraudulent dealers, and already convictions have been obtained for adulterating beer with salt. It is, however, in the narration of anecdotes and in formulating the results of observation that Mr. Moister is at home. Examples are drawn from every class of society, to show how life has been maintained in vigorous exercise without resorting to stimulants, even in such laborious work as harvesting. A very fair summary is given of the agencies at work amongst the Christian Churches for the lessening of the evil; but we fail to find anything about the Good Templars, except their name.

No work on intemperance would have been complete without reference to the legislative measures adopted with a view to its arrest; and Mr. Moister has devoted a chapter to it. But we are bound to say, that the present state of the English law is but loosely dealt with. In a book aspiring to be a manual, we naturally look for something like guidance on so important a topic; and it would have been easy to sketch the main provisions of Mr. Bruce's celebrated Act. Instead of this, Mr. Moister quotes from obsolete Acts, and merely states that their penalties are now substan tially in force the fact being that the penalties are greatly increased. We hope

in another edition to see more accurate information under this heading. Taking the book as a whole, it is full of useful information, and deserves to be widely circulated.

For Ever: An Essay on Eternal Punishment. By Rev. M. Randles. Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged. London Wesleyan Conference Office. 1878. Since the last edition this widelyknown and highly appreciated Essay' has increased in bulk by about one-third, the most considerable part of the addition consisting of two appendices, one' On Immortality, the other On Patristic Doctrine.' Nearly all the rest of the increase relates to Mr. White's Life in Christ, or to Canon Farrar's Eternal Hope. The additions are clear improvements, and the book now fairly covers the whole ground. Profoundly convinced of the truth of his cause, Mr. Randles grapples courageously and confidently with his opponents. But he is not content with exposing error; he attempts direct demonstration of the truth. The high value which attached to the second edition is much enhanced by the revision and enlargement which distinguish this.

Christian Life and Practice of the Early Church. By E. de Pressensé, D.D. Translated by Annie Harwood-Holmden: London: Hodder and Stoughton.-This translation, issued contemporaneously with its French original, is a fitting completion to Dr. Pressensé's charming studies in the Early Years of Christianity,' the first three or four centuries. It is at least as eloquent and poetic as its three predecessors, and pours a strong and many-coloured light upon the subjects on which it treats; and a pure and intense spirituality exhales from its pages. The author treats first of Ecclesiastical Life in the Second and Third Centuries; then, of Private and Public Worship; and lastly, of the Moral Life of Christians in the Third and Fourth Centuries. He gives a vigorous sketch of Church organization at the opening of the Second Century, points out the location of Church authority, the modes of discipline and the relation of the Churches to each other. He shows the sacredness attached to Church-membership, and the vigilance with which the Church watched over the character and conduct of catechumens and communicants. He then traces the fatal progress of deterioration: the encroachment of ritual on the simplicity of worship and of hierarchical prerogative over the privileges and liberties of the people; and that in spite of the vigorous resistance of many powerful minds. He shows how the way

was prepared for Papal pretensions by a loosened and lowered standard of Christian holiness and by the claim of the clergy to remit sins. We are sorry, however, to find that this volume is not free from the two grave faults of former volumes: a strong leaning to the theory of Independency and a sympathy with theological speculation, rising to the extreme of a positive partisanship with Origen. The chapters in the Second and Third Books on Worship, especially Worship in the Home; on Christianity and the Family; Christianity in its relation to Slavery and Free Labour-with the State and with Society; the Church and Social Life-the Theatre-Art, etc., are especially fine. On the whole, the work forms a rich contribution to the Church History of the period.

A Young Man's Safeguard in the Perils of the Age. By William Guest, F.G.S. London: Hodder and Stoughton. -A very sensible little book, full of sound and godly counsel. The young man who reads it thoughtfully and prayerfully can hardly fail to be better prepared to overcome both his moral and his mental difficulties. We hope many Christian masters will place it in the hands of the youths in their employment.

Human Life and its Conditions. Sermons preached before the University of Oxford in 1876-1878, with three Ordination Sermons. By R. W. Church, M.A., D.C.L., Dean of St. Paul's. London: Macmillan.-This is a small volume on a great subject. Human Life and its Conditions is a theme worthy of any Preacher, and he must be no ordinary one who can throw light on its mysteries. Dean Church, if not so popular a Preacher as Canon Liddon, is certainly a thoughtful one; and in this volume he has given us some striking views on the several topics he here handles. The first Sermon is entitled The Supremacy of Goodness, and is founded on the reply of our Lord to the young ruler: 'Why callest thou Me good?' (Mark x. 17, 18.) It was not a disclaimer of goodness itself, but, according to Dean Church, a rebuke of the man's thoughtlessness in uttering words of which he knew not the meaning. The Preacher then proceeds to speak of what goodness really is it is sanctity, the reflection of God's wisdom, the greatness of a good life; all which qualities were exhibited by our Lord in their most perfect forms. The second Sermon is on Human Life, collective and individual, and deals with some of the great mysteries of our social and individual existence. Responsibility for our Belief is the subject of the third discourse, which is an