—Observing that the learned and accomplished Humboldt has concluded his Cosmos in German, although the English translation of the last portion has not yet appeared,—an extremely valuable and interesting scientific contribution towards a general view of human knowledge regarding the universe,—will you permit me to observe, that as it perhaps did not enter into his plan to consider the religious considerations that arise from a Christian's view of the universe in its relation to our small portion of its apparently illimitable extent, any reader of Humboldt's work who wishes to see how a scholar and a divine of a former generation has treated the subject, will, if I mistake not, peruse the following work with singular pleasure, making all due allowance for the imperfect state of scientific knowledge at the time when the author wrote:—
"Εις Θεος Εις Μεσιτης; or, an Attempt to show how far the Philosophical Notion of a Plurality of Worlds is consistent, or not so, with the language of the Holy Scriptures. By the Rev. Edward Nares, A.M., Rector of Biddenden, Kent, and late Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. 8vo. London, 1801."
The author, I may add, was a friend of the eminent geologist, De Luc.
J. M.
Gough, the Irish Portion of his Camden: Ledwich.
—The following cutting from a Dublin bookseller's Catalogue (Connolly, 6. Chancery Place, Feb. 1852) may perhaps find a corner in "N. & Q." Dr. Ledwich was the Will-o'-the-Wisp that led Gough astray in the matter of Irish antiquities. Few, indeed, of the "additions" made to honest Camden's original are of value, many of them are worse than valueless:—
"ANTIQUITIES OF IRELAND, from Gough's edition of Camden's Britannia, profusely illustrated with plates and maps from various works, including Ortelliu's (Ortelius') rare map of Ireland, all of which were inserted by the Rev. Mr. Ledwich, the Irish Antiquarian, royal folio, half russia, neat, 3l. 10s.
"This unique copy was presented by Mr. Gough to the Rev. Mr. Ledwich, and bears Gough's autograph: 'For the Rev. Mr. Ledwich. From the author. 1789.'
"Mr. Ledwich presented the book to Wm. Monck Mason, Esq., having written the following memorandum:—
"'I assisted Mr. Gough in this edition, and he spontaneously promised a copy of the work in 3 vols. folio, but put me off with this paltry volume. So he served my valuable friend, Mr. Beauford of Athy.