1850.] Its Peculiar Merits. 299 withstanding all that has been written on the subject, we have read these volumes with the fresh interest of an unexhausted novelty. Mr. Grote has more distinct and peculiar qualifications for the task than any of his predecessors. For many years he was a leading Liberal member of the House of Commons, and took a conspicuous part in all questions of finance and reform. At an early period he conceived the design of writing this work, with the purpose of correcting "the erroneous statements as to matters of fact," which Mitford's History contained, as well as of presenting "the general phenomena of the Grecian world" under a more just and comprehensive view. He bears ample testimony "to the learning, the sagacity, and the candor" which pervade Dr. Thirlwall's work. But Mr. Grote's work does really meet and supply a great want in historical literature. He has investigated the original sources, and meditated the subject while personal observation in the sphere of political activity was furnishing daily and yearly corrections or illustrations to the results of the studies of the closet. We are struck with his thoroughness and the independence of his views on almost every page. His style, though not distinguished for grace or elegance, is characterized by strength, and it commands the interest of the reader more than that of Thirlwall. His mind takes hold of the subject with a vigorous grasp, and the range of his historical view is broad and comprehensive. The narrative parts of his work are perspicuous and finished, and the critical discussions which it is necessary to engage in with regard to disputed points, whether in matters of fact or opinion, show philological skill of the highest order. In many of these learned dissertations we think Mr. Grote has cleared up difficulties, especially in some parts of Thucydides relating to transactions of the Peloponnesian war, which had hitherto remained unexplained. For an example of Mr. Grote's skill in this way, we refer to the note upon the battle near Naupactus, Vol. VI. pp. 277-281. Mr. Grote's ability in delineating the characters of the prominent men in Greek history is marvellous, and though we do not, in every instance, take the same view with him, we should not probably find it easy to justify our dissent. It is to us a matter of profound interest to know the judgment of an able statesman, like Mr. Grote, upon the characters and motives of the great men who controlled the affairs of the Grecian republics. We have in some cases been surprised by the new light he has thrown upon them, and the new opinions he expresses; in no instance whatever have we risen from his arguments without valuable instruction. In the first volume Mr. Grote enters upon an elaborate discussion of the origin and nature of the Grecian legends. There is certainly nothing in the English language equal in fulness of learning and clearness of statement to this delineation of legendary Greece. The influence of the myths upon the later growth of poetry and political institutions is of the first importance; and no writer has so admirably developed it in all its bearings as Mr. Grote. This discussion is completed in the second volume, which also contains a valuable analysis of the recent opinions upon the controverted questions of the Homeric poetry. Mr. Grote takes a middle ground between the traditional views, and the positions maintained by Wolf and his disciples. He adopts the theory of an original Achilleïs as the central point around which the Iliad was gradually formed; a theory from which we respectfully dissent, but the question is too large a one to be discussed here. Having finished these portions of the subject, he commences with Part Second the delineation of historical Greece, and brings the history down, in the second volume, to the legislation of Solon, and the early conquests of Sparta, giving a very complete picture of the singular institutions of the Spartans, so far as they can be ascertained from the remaining authorities. The third volume begins with the Grecian despots, and then takes up the laws and constitution of Solon. On account of the vast influence which this great man has exercised upon the legislation of the whole civilized world, we could have wished that Mr. Grote had entered even more minutely than he has into the details of his institutions. Still, the reader will draw from his chapter on this subject a better and more intelligible synopsis of the Solonian constitution than from any other single source whatever. The most important matter treated in the rest of the volume is the history of the Greek colonies in the east and in the west. The fourth volume brings the history down through 1850.] Analysis of the History. 301 the period of the lyric poetry, the administration of the Peisistratids at Athens, the expulsion of that usurping family, the restoration of the democracy, and the alterations made in the frame of Solon's constitution by Cleisthenes, the commencement of the great drama of the Persian wars, to the battle of Marathon. In the chapter on the political changes made by Cleisthenes, Mr. Grote considers the question of ostracism, which, like Lytton, he justifies. We readily admit that his arguments are ingenious, and contain all that can possibly be urged on that side; but a single consideration overthrows them all, the principle of ostracism was essentially unjust. Surely mollusks never were put to so ill a use, before or since. The fifth volume continues the Persian war to the final repulse of the invaders; then it narrates the events in Sicily, down to the establishment of popular governments in the island; and finally, the history of continental Greece is resumed and brought down to the opening of the career of Pericles. The sixth volume carries the history from the thirty years' truce, through the first eight years of the terrible Peloponnesian war, to the peace of Nicias, concluded in March, 421 B. C. In this part of the history, Mr. Grote examines anew the character and principles of the Spartan and Athenian confederacies, between which all Greece was divided. Here, again, we find the impress of that vigorous and independent judgment which we have already pointed out. His liberal tendencies induce him to vindicate the administration of Athens from the charge of oppression and selfishness, in which historians generally indulge; and we think he is not unduly swayed by political partialities, and that he makes good his case. Towards the end of the sixth volume, he draws two or three of the leading personages of the drama with consummate skill. We refer particularly to the characters of Brasidas, the Spartan king, and of Cleon, the Athenian demagogue. The latter is one of the most original in the work, and perhaps will be less generally admitted as correct. We must content ourselves with this brief outline, reserving some further comments for the remaining vol umes. VOL. XLVIII. 4TH S. VOL. XIII. NO. II. C. C. F. 26 ART. IX. THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION.* UNLIKE as the titles of these works may seem, they have enough in common to make it proper and convenient to bring them under review together. They come from a president and a professor of the same nominal faith, and they discuss, in part, the same great question of natural and revealed religion, a resurrection from the grave. They interest us as advancing some new and liberal principles of interpretation, and manifesting the best spirit, without the slightest reflection upon any who differ from them. At the same time, we are constrained to question some of their assertions and reasonings, especially in the case of Dr. Hitchcock. Indeed, we are disappointed in both books, as regards their ability or thoroughness. The nature of the subjects, and, still more, the position and repute of the writers for learning, led us to expect a good deal; more, perhaps, than we ought, when we consider that neither of the treatises attempts any thing like a profound or complete view of the subjects treated. The first is a book of illustration rather than discussion. It consists of four lectures, with texts from Scripture, on "The Resurrection of Spring," "The Triumphal Arch of Summer," "The Euthanasia of Autumn," and "The Coronation of Winter." These Dr. Hitchcock treats religiously, in parts very beautifully and impressively, bringing to their elucidation a little, but far less than we expected and desired, of his large and varied scientific knowledge. The outside title of the volume is, "The Phenomena of the Seasons Spiritualized," and the author aims to present their most spiritual aspects, or rather analogies, for the enforcement of the highest truths; devoting one lecture to the distinct subject of Resurrection, 1. Religious Lectures on Peculiar Phenomena in the Four Seasons. Delivered to the Students in Amherst College in 1845, 1847, 1848, and 1849. By EDWARD HITCHCOCK, D. D., LL. D., President of the College and Professor of Natural Theology and Geology. Amherst. 1850. 12mo. PP. 143. 2. The Second Advent: or, What do the Scriptures teach respecting the Second Coming of Christ, the End of the World, the Resurrection of the Dead, and the General Judgment? By ALPHEUS CROSBY. Boston: Phillips, Sampson, & Co. 1850. 12mo. pp. 173. 1850.] Professor Crosby. 303 as viewed by natural and revealed religion. In only one or two instances is there betrayed the influence of a peculiar theology; but one of them caused us, we own, no little surprise, as coming from so eminent a geologist, as well as divine, and one who once argued against Professor Stuart so ably in defence of the free interpretation of the "Days of the Creation," and the gradual formation of the earth's surface for the abode of man. This abode, as he now intimates, has been changed physically, as well as morally, by man's sin. He would lead his readers to believe, that the very laws of nature would have been different, and the material universe far richer and more beautiful, had not sin defaced it. He says, "It does seem as if God had so balanced and adjusted the agencies of nature, that once or twice in a generation he allows some splendid development of unearthly beauty, to teach us what might perhaps have been a settled order of things, had not sin impressed her harpy fingers upon the face of nature." Is not this a singular picture of the world and its Creator? It bears too near a resemblance much nearer than the men bear to each other to the "Philosophy of Religion," in which Dr. Dick speaks of the earthquake and the volcano as the effects of man's sin, and the expressions of God's displeasure! We believe Dr. Hitchcock's religion, as well as science, has inclined him more and more to take a different view, and make a better use, of those mighty elements and agencies with which he is so familiar. Most of the views of this very volume are calculated to encourage higher and more healthy conceptions of the wisdom and goodness of God. The only remarks to which we should take serious exception are those which pertain to the resurrection of the body; of which we propose to speak, in connection with the other volume before us. Professor Crosby, well known to many before as a sound scholar and an efficient instructor in Dartmouth College, has recently come into notice as a theologian, or at least as an independent thinker, and a moderate but fearless advocate of truth as it appears to his own mind. His recent pamphlet on "Foster's Views of Future Punishment, with a Letter to the Directors of the American Tract Society," though published anonymously, has brought upon him no little attention, and led in some way, it is |