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ON THE RECENT APPEARANCE OF MAN UPON THE

EARTH.

BY M. FAA DE BRUNO, PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS IN
THE UNIVERSITY OF TURIN.

T

(Communicated by Sir David Brewster.)

HIS interesting paper has been published by the Abbé
Moigno in his journal, entitled Les Mondes.* The object

of it is to shew, in opposition to modern sceptics, that from the existing population of the globe, and the law of its increase, the earth cannot have been occupied by man more than 6000 years.

The actual population of the globe does not exceed one milliard, and three hundred millions, distributed in the following manner :—

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According to the most trustworthy statistics, the annual increase of population is about 200. With these data we can determine how many years must elapse in order that a single couple, two persons, Adam and Eve for example, may produce the above number of inhabitants, the existing population. By the well known doctrine of Progression, we have only to resolve the following equation :—

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x being the number of years required, and we shall have

x= 4400 years.

Taking into account the deluge, which stopped the advance of population, the preceding result is very extraordinary.

If we admit that the annual increase of population is greater than we have assumed—namely, or 0.00347, we shall find

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Thus fixing x = 5863 years as the age of the human race, we only obtain its maximum, for the number 0.00347 is actually too small, notwithstanding that polygamy has been much restricted.

We may therefore announce the following proposition as certain : It is impossible that the creation of man can have reached beyond 5863 years.

To those who believe in Scripture, and in the deluge, we offer

* Les Mondes, 18th June 1863, tom. i. p. 516.

another very striking approximation to the truth. If we adopt for the annual increase of the population 227, which is very near to its actual increase in France, and recollect that in the year of the world 1556 Noah went out of the ark with three sons and three daughters, making seven persons in all, we shall find

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that is, we obtain the existing population of the globe.

If we take as the annual increase of the population, and calculate the total number of persons who have lived on the earth since the deluge, we shall find the enormous number of 296,448,607,000, or nearly 296 milliards.

In order to form some notion of this immense multitude, we may state that the whole of France would not be sufficient to contain them if six men were placed in a square metre, or five in a square yard.

The promise made by God to Abraham has thus been wonderfully verified: "I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand on the sea shore."

Upon this interesting paper the Abbé Moigno makes the following observations: In the reasoning of M. Faa de Bruno, we must distinguish two things—the numerical data, and the method. The numerical data—namely, the existing population and its annual increase— may be uncertain, but it is absolutely certain that the number of the population is a finite number, and that its increase is also a limited fraction; and, consequently, according to the mathematical laws of Progression, the number of years necessary for the development of the population now existing on the globe is itself fixed, and very near six thousand years. The sceptic, therefore, lies when he dares to oppose human to divine science.

SCENES OF MY CHILDHOOD.

BY A LADY.

HAIL! scenes of my childhood, the green and the wild wood,
The beautiful streamlet, and church on the hill-

The landscape still smiling, with pathways beguiling,
Where corn fields and gardens slope down to the rill!
Hail! woodland and valley, delightful to salley,

Through sunshine and flowers that sport in the glade;

To revisit again the fresh upland or plain,

And retrace the sweet nooks where my infancy play'd.

While I gaze on the mountain, the bridge, and the fountain,
Bright landmarks of childhood to woman renew'd;

The hamlet, so still, kept alive by the mill,

And homesteads, and orchards, with plenty bestrew'd.
The cave-cliff, as ever, by Ale's shining river,

The sweet song of birds, breathed from hedgerow and tree;
The sheep-walk and dingle, where flocks and herds mingle,
Blest scenes of my childhood, thrice welcome to me!

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JUNE MEETING OF THE BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS' CLUB.

EW places could have been better chosen for a gathering of Border naturalists and antiquaries than the ancient pretty little town of Warkworth. Early as the eighth century it had its church, which was given to Lindisfarne by Ceolwulph, the king of Northumberland. When Newcastle was unknown to fame, and even Alnwick and Berwick unfortified by castles, Warkworth was a place of importance. The district is rich in antiquities of an early period; Celtic graves have been exposed near Amble, and on the Hauxley estate such quantities of flint weapons have been found as to lead to the conclusion, that at this place there was an ancient manufactory of stone instruments.

Amongst the most beautiful of the rivers in the north of England is the Coquet, which rises in the north-west part of Northumberland; about a mile from the mouth of which, on a lofty eminence, stands

the Castle of Warkworth. The view from hence (says Hutchinson in his history) is so extensive and various, that any description can convey but a very imperfect idea of its members or its beauties. To the east and north-east there is a sea prospect, with which you take in the Castles of Dunstanborough and Bamborough, at the most distant point of land. The Ferne Islands lie scattered like patches on the face of the water, and at a little distance is seen the mouth of the river Coquet, and Coquet Island, famous as a monastic retreat in the days of St Cuthbert. To the north you view a richly cultivated country, and to the south an extensive plain, inclining towards the sea, crowded with villages and interspersed with woods.

The town of Warkworth is situated on the northern inclination of the Castlehill, and forms a pleasing though steep approach to the old keep. Situated on a bend of the river which nearly surrounds it, the castle had some natural advantages as a place of defence, and its south side, which was the weakest, was strengthened by a deep ditch, which in the olden time was crossed by a drawbridge.

Grose, who has given two views of this castle in his antiquities, says nothing can be so magnificent and picturesque, from what part soever it is viewed; and though when entire it was far from being destitute of strength, yet its appearance does not suggest the idea of one of those rugged fortresses destined solely for war, whose gloomy towers suggest to the imagination only dungeons, chains, and executions, but rather that of such an ancient hospitable mansion as is alluded to by Milton,

"Where throngs of knights and barons bold,

In weeds of peace high triumphs hold."

Like many other places, Warkworth owed the origin of its castle to the Norman era. We know it was in existence in 1173, when William the Lion, king of Scotland, took it, and with savage ferocity burnt the town, mutilated three priests, and slew three hundred men, women, and children, who had taken refuge in the Church of St Lawrence. The castle and barony of Warkworth belonged to Roger Fitz-Richard, who held them by the service of one knight's fee of the grant of Henry II. In this family they continued for several successive generations, and were at length, by John, surnamed De Clavering, settled after his death (and provided he died without male issue) upon King Edward I. They were bestowed upon Henry Percy, ancestor of the Earls of Northumberland, by Edward III. After being several times forfeited and recovered, they were finally restored in the twelfth year of Henry V. to Henry, fourth Earl of Northumberland, and have since that period continued in the possession of the noble house of Percy. Warkworth appears to have been the favourite residence of the Percy family, and in Leland's time was well "menteyned;" but in 1672, the timber and lead were granted to one of their agents, and the principal part of it was unroofed.

The castle and moat, according to an old survey, contained upwards of five acres of ground. Of the Norman castle, there is still

to be seen the great entrance gate, or barbican, the postern, two mural towers on the east side, the curtain wall on the west, and some other portions.

The castle suffered much from border warfare and civil strife, and in the fifteenth century was to a great extent rebuilt. The great keep, "a marvellous proper donjon of eight towers," says an old survey, "joyned in one house together," was erected by the son of Hotspur about 1430. On one of its northern towers is portrayed the Brabant lion, a huge figure, "wrought in stone very workmanly." Standing on the corner of the hill, it towers conspicuously above all the other erections. A flight of steps conducts us to the lower storey, the chambers of which are vaulted and gloomy, light being chiefly admitted through small eyelet holes in the walls. Beneath one apartment is a horrid dungeon, to which wretched captives were lowered by the aid of cords through an opening in the floor. In the second storey, lighted by traceried windows, is seen the great baronial hall, with orchestral recesses, ladies' apartments, the chapel, kitchen, bakehouse, and other conveniences. Towards the latter part of the fifteenth century, two towers were erected within the bailliery of the castle, one of which is called "Cradyfargus Tower," but for what reason is not known. From a great lion guardant, "very workmanlie wrought," with a crescent encircling the neck, on which is inscribed Esperance," the other is called the "Lion Tower." Along with this we find the fusils belonging to the older heraldry of the Percies, the lucy fish and a bascule, a curious badge, according to Longstaffe, appearing only in the time of the fourth Earl of Northumberland, and derived from the family of Herbert, evidencing that this tower was built between 1461 and 1489. The erection of a chapel, or collegiate church, was commenced within the walls of the castle at a later period, but never completed; the bases of the pillars and the foundations of the walls still remain. During the sixteenth century the Earls of Northumberland lived here in princely splendour; the castle was "the great resort of gentlemen, as well as of those of mean degree." Its massive courts rung with the sounds of revelry and joy, of tournaments graced by ladies fair, and banquets enlivened by the minstrel's song.

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When we add to this some brief description of the Hermitage, we may rest assured, that in days "lang syne" Warkworth was the cradle of valour, piety, poetry, and proud historical associations, if sometimes blended with thrilling vicissitudes and martial conflicts. How many orders have issued from the Lords Percy of Warkworth, when Wardens of the Marches, for ravaging the Scottish Borders!

THE HERMITAGE.

"A little lowly hermitage it was,

Downe in a dale, hard by a forest's side,
Far from resort of people that did pass
In traveill to and froe: a little wyde
There was an holy chapell edifyde,
Wherein the hermite dewly wont to say
His holy things each morne and eventyde.

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