rooks of the first, second, third ami fourth groups may bo due to subsequent faultily:, but they arc nevertheless more recent. The accompanying map gives the general outline of the groups. I have used Prof. Frazer's section along the Susquehanna river for illustration with my interpretation. He produced the section through Chickit in his report C. C. of the Second Geological Survey. Tho changes I have made are on structural grounds. An Account of an Old Work on Cosmography. Py Henry (Read before the American Philosophical Society, January 10, 1880.) It has occurred to mo that as all knowledge is within the scope of our pursuits, an analysis of a work on Cosmography, the production of a once famous author, might not prove unacceptable. The errors among which men once blindly groped, the silly tales of wonderment with which returned travelers were wont to astonish their stay-at-home friends, tho absurd statements once received as absolute facts, but later exploded by tho Ithuriol-touch of truth, now at these later days, when wo are entirely freed from superstition, folly and ignorance, and a blind reliance upon the ipse dixit of anyono, may afford us a lesson pregnant with instruction. It is, therefore, with this view that I venture, this evening, to present to our Society an account of a bcxik which bears for its title: "CosmoKrnphla Universalis Llhri VI. In iiulbus Juxln oortlorts thiol scrlptornin tradltlonum dosoiibuntur omnium habltabllls orbls partlum situs proprlioi)uoilotos, reglonum tnposraphhw Oiurios. Torno In^onia qulbus lit ut lain dltlorontes et varlaa speolo res ot. anlmatas et lnanlmatas forat. Anlmnllum pcrt'Krlnorum nnturiovt ploturio. Noblllorumrlvltatuni Icon ex ot doserlptlones, Ke^iiorum lnltla, Inoromonta ot trimslatlonos. Ko.uum ot prlnclplum GeneuloRhe. Horn omnium gentium moves, lo^os, rolliilo, mulattones; atquo mtmorablllum In hiiiiv usquo ad annum l.ViUm'stni'um rorum lllstoiia. Autore Skiiast. Mi-nstkro." On tho recto of the title-page appears tho portrait of tho author, an elderly, hard-featured man, beneath which are two Latin poems, laudatory of that distinguished person and his work. The preface is dated at Basic, March, 1550. Sebastian Minister may serve us as an example of the scholars of tho olden time- He was born at tngelheim, in 1489, and bocanio a Cordelier monk, but, having adopted the opinions of Luther, he renounced the robes and the yoke of a cloister and took to himself a wife. Such.was the usual course in those days which the converted clergy took to show their hatred to the tenets of tho church of Home, whore enforced celibacy was of primary importance, and weighed so heavily upon them. For several years Minister taught at Basle, where he gave to the public many valuable works, having rendered himself so very learned in geographi cal mill mathematical science, niul in tlio Henrew language, that he « iia * known us t ho Ksdras unit I he Si mini of Octmauy. The mere enumeration of his w rlilngs In Uesner's liibliot/iteii occupies several folio |uiges. He died Hi Unslo, of n prevailing pestilence, on the twenty-third Jay of May, 1889, In the sixty-third year of his age, This book Whs one that became very popular iiml ran through many edition*. It was published at Hasle originally In 1580, then successively In 1300, 1574, 1578, 15113, 1808 ami 1014. All these editions were In German. The Cosmography was Issued In Latin In 1530 and 1334, having been translated by Minister himself. It was Issued In French at Hasle In 1859, and at l'arlsln 1373; In Italian at Hale, I53S. A selection from Its contents, entitled "A treatise on the New India with other newe founds lands and Islaiiiles as well eastwaiile as westwards by Sebastian Minister, translated Into Knglisli by Klelmrd Kdcn," was published at London in 1833, and another translation, "A brief collection of strange and memorable tilings gathered out the Cosmography of Sebastian Minister," was published at London In 1574.* The book, which is crowded with quaint and rude wood cuts, begins with a number of lull page ma|>s, among which are the world on the I'toleniieiiu system (America, of course, not shown}, surrounded by a border representing the various winds, Europe and its various divisions (embracing the kingdoms of Hohemla, Hungary, I'olamK Africa, Asia and the New World. The Hrlllsh Isliuiils were not of siitllelont import Mice to warrant a special map and are crowded up towards the top of a general map of Kurope In such a manner that very little of Scotland is shown. Kngland was at this lime under the dominion of Edward VI. (1547-155,1), and the Influence exercised by It upon the polities of Continental Kurope was very Inconsiderable; It was looked on, in fact, only as a semi barbarian island In the far-oil'northern seas. Naturally the author begins with the beginning and starts with the creation of the world, drawn from Hlblieal sources. To this chapter Is prefixed a wood cut representing the world as a plain from whose bounds arise lofty mountains, inhabited solely by iiiiliiuils. In the background is a circle of flames; in the foreground Is an ocean with fishes mid an old fashioned high-pooped Hutch galliot, navigating apparently by Its own Instinct (for not a living being Is anywhere to lie seen upon It) the new made witters. Sen monsters raise their heads from the billows and gaxe with rapt amii'/.ement at the ship, taking It, doubtless, for some novel marine creation. Overhead are shining Ilio sun, moon and stars, while Hod, represented as an old man with a papal tiara upon his head, is seated between the heavenly bodies upon a cloud. At each of the upper comer* of the plate Is an angel; at each of the lower corners a very safyr-Iooking demon. Then follow chapters upon land, sea, Islands, Hie earth with It* vegetable and mineral wealth, earthquakes, hot springs and baths, Area existing * Unmet. |