W. KENT & CO., AND F. PITMAN, PATERNOSTER ROW.

It is gratifying to be able to report the increasing success of the "POPULAR LECTURER," of which this is the third volume, new series. We have been urged to publish oftener than once a month, but that interval is not too long to enable most of our readers to digest the contents of each number, and the ablest lectures will prove worthless unless their perusal induces study. We do our best to rescue good lectures from oblivion; and thus, in the words of the "Athenæum," help to "make lecturers more earnest, and audiences more critical."

The present volume contains twenty-seven lectures, embracing a wide range of subjects, as will be seen by the "Contents." Most of the lectures are printed entire; when condensed, we have given the leading ideas. Our thanks are due to the contributors for permission to publish their lectures,– which has been granted in every case. 'The monthly covers of the Lecturer" have contained some of the approving notices of the public press, but the most flattering we have not ventured to print. Amongst our patrons we are proud to number Lord Brougham, Lord Stanley, M.P., Professor Owen, and many other eminent thinkers and workers of the day. An extra use which has been discovered for the "Lecturer” is in furnishing suitable reporting practice for writers of Pitman's Phonetic Shorthand. The volume extends to 384 pages, and the average cost of the lectures is less than one penny each.

Grateful for past and present success, we hope to deserve more encouragement in the future. We respectfully solicit the continued support of our subscribers and friendly readShort lectures on popular subjects will be acceptable THE EDITOR.

ers.

to

"Courier," Manchester,

December, 1858,

CONTENTS.

Page

Mechanics of the Bible. By Mr. Wm. Robertson..

1

Geographical Botany. By J. C. Niven, Esq.

33

Modern Chemical Discoveries. By Prof. F. Crace Calvert, M. R.C.S... 58

Working Man's College. By A. J. Scott, Esq., M. A.

65

Geology and Extinct Animals. By B. W. Hawkins, Esq., F. G.S.

On Reading. By Mr. T. B. Heath

.208

of

The Philosophy of Life. By Mr. Joseph Johnson..

Daniel Webster. By the Rev. E. G. Holland

225

and

High and Low Steam Pressure. By Mr. Wm. McNaught, C.E.

po

Preventible Disease. By Mr. J. W. Cox, M.R C.S.

Adult Education. By the Right Hon. Sir George Grey

Dr. Livingstone's Travels in Africa. By the Rev. W. G. Barrett.

IN a former lecture, under the title of "Mechanical Creation a Fallacy," I reviewed the mechanics of atheism. As a sequel to that lecture I now proceed to consider the mechanics of the Bible. Against the atheist it was proved that no mechanical force or source of mechanical power had yet been discovered which was not counterbalanced by a corresponding inertia, and that some motions were of such a nature that no natural force would produce them; consequently, all our great heavenly movements must have originated in the will and power of an Almighty Creator. The first *declaration of the Bible, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," thus accords with the deductions of mechanical philosophy. But doubt has been thrown over some of the other declarations and positions of the Bible; and our object to-night is to bring some of these declarations to the same practical test. The doctrine of the Bible on mechanics is to be found scattered over the whole book; and it will be necessary to draw your attention to many different portions of the sacred writings for the proper elucidation of that doctrine. The portion, however, to

* See "Popular Lecturer" for Nov., 1856, vol. I.